I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.

Friends, it is such a joy to gather together on the eve of Australia Day.

Our national day is our chance to do so much more than simply count our blessings. We pause to reflect on everything that we have achieved as a nation, as a people.

All that we have created and built and learned through all the ups and downs of our history.

The challenges we have faced – together.

The opportunities we have seized – together.

The Albanese Government will direct the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to investigate pricing and competition in the supermarket sector to ensure Australians are paying a fair price for their groceries.

We understand that Australians are under the pump and the cost of groceries is among the biggest concern for many.

This 12-month ACCC inquiry – the first of its kind since 2008 – will investigate the competitiveness of retail prices and allegations of price gouging in the supermarket sector.

LAURA TINGLE, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB PRESIDENT: Prime Minister, thank you for your address. Every other Prime Minister who has broken a major promise has gone on to lose their job. Paul Keating and his L-A-W tax cuts, Tony Abbott, cutting health and the ABC, Julia Gillard, on the carbon tax and Kevin Rudd on the CPRS. Why will Anthony Albanese be different?

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.

I want to acknowledge all the members of my team who are here today.

Our Labor Government is driven by the determination to make a positive difference.

To change this great country, for the better.

And to build an economy that works for people, not the other way around.

So that when you work hard and make sacrifices, you get fair reward for your effort.

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering a tax cut for every Australian taxpayer commencing on July 1.

These new tax cuts are designed to provide bigger tax cuts for middle Australia to help with cost-of-living, while making our tax system fairer.

The Albanese Government recognises the economic realities of 2024: Australians are under pressure right now and deserve a tax cut.

Labor’s tax cuts will make a real difference for 13.6 million Australians, ensuring that hard working Australians are keeping more of the wages they earn.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: The ABC is one of our most important institutions. A pillar of Australian life that plays a critical role. It is, indeed, one of the great pillars of our democracy. It's part of our cultural identity and our cultural wellbeing. Crucially, it's a life-line in times of disaster. We rely upon the ABC to inform Australians about natural disasters, about weather events and about what is occurring in the world so they can respond in an appropriate way.

The Albanese Government will recommend to the Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), that Mr Kimberley (Kim) Williams AM be appointed the next Chairperson of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Board.

Mr Williams has extensive experience across the screen, music, sports and media industries, and has made eminent and substantial contributions to the cultural life of the nation.

KYLE SANDILANDS, HOST: The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. Good morning, Albo.

JACKIE O, HOST: How are you Albo?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Wonderful to be with you.

KYLE SANDILANDS: Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER: Happy New Year and all of that.

SANDILANDS: Thank you. Happy New year to you too, my friend.

JACKIE O: So, we were just talking about vapes, actually, and what your stance is on it.

KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Prime Minister, thank you very much for your time.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning Kieran, good to be with you.

GILBERT: This week, you've got your MPs coming back for a special caucus on Wednesday. Can you give our viewers a sense of what your, what's your message going to be to them when they gather here?

Australians have saved $250 million on cheaper medicines in 2023 thanks to the Albanese Government.

Changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the introduction of 60-day prescriptions are working to reduce everyday costs for Australians.

On 1 January 2023, for the first time in the 75-year history of the PBS, the Albanese Government lowered the maximum cost of prescription medications listed on the PBS saving Australians more than $240 million in 2023.