The Australian and Papua New Guinea (PNG) Governments are partnering with the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) to deepen our connections through rugby league.

Australia will support a PNG team to enter the National Rugby League (NRL) competition no later than 2028.

As PNG prepares to mark its 50th anniversary of independence in 2025, this partnership celebrates our countries’ shared history and future, reflects our strategic trust and opens new people-to-people and economic opportunities.

Today, the Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape announced the entry into force of the Australia – Papua New Guinea Bilateral Security Agreement.

As a legally binding framework for closer security relations, the Agreement is a landmark chapter in the Australia – Papua New Guinea Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership.

TANYA PLIBERSEK, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER: Thank you for coming today. And I want to acknowledge that we're meeting on the land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and say how grateful the Prime Minister is and how grateful Allegra and I are to be greeted today by Mark and Egon and Ernie, three survivors of the Holocaust who shared their history and their experiences with us. Thank you again for that generosity.

Today the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese joined the Member for Sydney, Minister Tanya Plibersek and the Member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender to announce $8.5 million to upgrade the Sydney Jewish Museum.

The Sydney Jewish Museum was founded in 1992 as a place for Holocaust survivors and Jewish Australians to share memories, commemorate those lost, and educate the community about Jewish heritage and culture.  

The funding will go towards the Centre of Jewish Life and Tolerance which will sit alongside the Sydney Jewish Museum.

A re-elected Albanese Labor Government will take the next steps in building a universal early education and care system by expanding access to quality early education across the country.

The Government will establish a $1 billion Building Early Education Fund, which will roll out from July 2025.

More centres will be built and expanded in areas of need, including in the outer suburbs and regional Australia. 

This week, as students and teachers here in Queensland and around the country count down to the holidays, and families look forward to Christmas we also look back on the year that’s been and the challenges that we’ve faced.

I want every Australian to know that I understand things have been hard.

I want every Australian to know that when times are tough, we’ve got your back.

Our Government is working every day to make next year easier for you and your family.

To put the worst of global inflation behind us - and to put the last of the Liberals’ mess behind us too.

PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: This morning, Australia is waking up to yet another act of antisemitic hate, this time in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra. It comes a little more than a day after the Prime Minister unveiled a new taskforce to tackle antisemitic crimes in the wake of last week's arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne. The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, is my guest this morning. Prime Minister, welcome.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Patricia.

KARVELAS: What's happening in Australia?

The firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue was a vile act of cruelty against a tight-knit community.

It was crime of cowardice and prejudice.

Above all it was an act of terrorism.

I join with other Australians my total and unequivocal condemnation of this crime and everything it represents.

This was a fire fuelled by antisemitism and stoked by hatred.

It was a grotesque violation of a place of solace and sanctuary.

It has added to the Jewish Australian community’s already profound pain and sorrow.

JOSH BURNS, MEMBER FOR MACNAMARA: Right here, at Adass Israel, we saw a terror attack in the heart of our Jewish community. We've just been inside with the Prime Minister and the congregation, and I just want to say how amazed I am with the bravery and the stoicism and the proud Yiddishkeit that's being displayed by the Adass Israel congregation, showing the strength and the resilience to come together and support one another. And I want to thank them for their kindness and the warmth and the optimism that they have brought today.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much. I'm joined by the Attorney-General, the Minister for Home Affairs, but also the AFP Commissioner and ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess. Today, we have had a meeting of the National Security Committee along with other meetings that we normally have on a Monday. As confirmed by authorities an hour and a half ago, the Melbourne attack will be investigated as a terrorist incident. Our world-class agencies will provide all the support necessary to find the perpetrators and ensure they face the full force of the law.