ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Look it is fantastic to be back in Townsville, for my first visit for 2024. But certainly not my first visit to this wonderful city of Townsville, and here for this announcement, and it's also a bit of a relief that prior to this, we were able to meet the SES workers, the energy workers, the people who've been doing so much in working in partnership with the Council, with the Queensland Government, but also all those volunteers who are doing their bit to make a difference for the recovery from the cyclone.

• $1.73 billion commitment for full delivery of Rockhampton Ring Road
• Rockhampton Ring Road construction started in November 2023
• Includes critical connections to the local road network

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Steven Miles today celebrated construction progress on the $1.73 billion Rockhampton Ring Road - a project that is now fully funded by both levels of government.

The Albanese Government is investing up to $70 million to develop the Townsville Region Hydrogen Hub in north Queensland, creating regional jobs and supporting Australia’s future as a renewable energy powerhouse.  

The project delivers on the Government’s election commitment to establish a hydrogen hub in North Queensland.

It will create at least 200 direct job opportunities for local electricians, plumbers, fitters and concreters during construction, as well ongoing jobs in technical and engineering roles.

AARON STEVENS, HOST: The pressure is on for the Prime Minister and the Government. The Prime Minister will be in Rockhampton today. We'll hear more about that in just a moment. But at a time when there's been a change in direction on tax cuts. Australia Day, the pressure is on with Australia Day and we had that conversation yesterday, let’s see what the Prime Minister thinks about your stance to leave everything exactly where it is. And we've also got a forum happening in Rockhampton today that will address renewable energy.

DAVID MARCHESE, HOST: Prime Minister, welcome back to Hack.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon, Dave. I'm very proud to be your first guest for the year.

MARCHESE: It's always good to start off with a big name talent like yourself. I want to ask, on this tax proposal that you've put forward, do you think that the plan changes that you've outlined are actually enough to help young Australians especially, who have been devastated by cost of living over the past couple of years?

LIAM STAPLETON, HOST: Albo joins us now. Do you have thick skin, Anthony, or does that still sort of get to you? A crowd of people booing?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Oh, no, it's Australian tradition.

STAPLETON: You're saying that like you've booed other Prime Ministers at the footy and that sort of stuff.

PRIME MINISTER: No, but I've been at a lot of sporting events in the past.

FIFI BOX, HOST: Welcome to the show, our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, team. I wasn't expecting to get that insight into Fev in the shower but it’s a way to start a Monday morning.

BRENDAN FEVOLA, HOST: Hey Albo, it's a beautiful sight. I'll give you the tip.

NICK CODY, HOST: The beer drinking?

FEVOLA: Yeah.

ANDREW CLENNELL, HOST: Prime Minister, thank you so much for joining us on our first Sunday Agenda of the year.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Welcome back to Canberra.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER:  Well look, it's fantastic to be here in Orange with the Mayor, the local Federal Member Andrew Gee, the local State Member Phil Donato, Senator Deborah O'Neill, the MLC Lawrence and other Councillors and former Councillors. But importantly as well, community leaders who are with us here today. Orange, we have lift off. A $33.5 million project that will transform this region.

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.                                       

It is such a pleasure to be with you all in Orange – a wonderful part of New South Wales that’s about to be made even better with the construction of the new Orange Regional Conservatorium and Planetarium.