JAYNE AZZOPARDI, HOST: We are going to get some more on Australia's landmark defence deal with Papua New Guinea.

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: To discuss we’re joined by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, who can make K-Pop. Good morning to you, PM. Nice to see you this morning. Look, you finally got there with PNG.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Morning. Great to be with you.

STEFANOVIC: Are you worried about how China might react?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome the Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, Lawrence Wong, to Australia from 6 to 9 October 2025.

This will be Prime Minister Wong’s first official visit to Australia since taking office, and coincides with 60 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Singapore.

Australia and Singapore have a deep and longstanding relationship, underpinned by strong economic ties, strategic trust and a close defence partnership.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Good afternoon, on what is a very historic day for Papua New Guinea and for Australia. Last month I had the enormous privilege and the absolute pleasure of representing the people of Australia in Port Moresby at what were quite spectacular celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence. I'm delighted to be able to return that hospitality and welcome my friend, Prime Minister Marape, back to Australia once again. We both enjoyed the football game last night, the NRL Grand Final.

Australia and Papua New Guinea have elevated our relationship to an Alliance, with the signing of the Papua New Guinea – Australia Mutual Defence Treaty.

The Alliance will be Australia’s first in more than 70 years, and Papua New Guinea’s first with any country.

Signed today in Canberra by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Hon James Marape MP, the Treaty reflects a shared commitment to peace and stability in the Pacific.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Fantastic to be in my electorate of Grayndler, here in Annandale with Clare O’Neil, the Housing Minister. And this morning we had the opportunity to meet with Maria. Maria’s a young woman who’s got into her first unit here in Annandale. And she couldn't have done that without taking up the opportunity to have mortgage insurance taken by the Commonwealth Government and paying a smaller deposit. What we are doing as of today is bringing forward our plan for 5 per cent deposits.

From today, first home buyers can realise their dream of home ownership sooner with the launch of 5 per cent deposits for all first home buyers, delivered months ahead of schedule.

The Albanese Government’s expanded 5 per cent deposit scheme guarantees a portion of a buyer’s home loan, cutting years off the time it takes to save for a deposit and saving on Lenders Mortgage Insurance.

Already more than 185,000 Australians have been supported into home ownership through this scheme. Today’s expansion means more Australians will get the keys to their first home sooner.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Australia welcomes President Trump's plan to bring peace to Gaza after two years of conflict and a devastating loss of life. Australia has long called for a ceasefire. We have called for the hostages to be released and for Hamas to give up its arms. I certainly have welcomed the opportunity to discuss the plans for a ceasefire moving forward over the past week with a range of leaders.

Australia welcomes President Trump’s plan to bring peace to Gaza after almost two years of conflict and a devastating loss of civilian life.

Australia has consistently been part of international calls for a ceasefire, return of the hostages, and flow of aid to Gaza.

I welcomed the opportunity to discuss this plan with other leaders over the past week.

Australia affirms the plan’s commitment to denying Hamas any role in the future governance of Gaza, and calls on Hamas to agree to the plan, lay down its arms and release all remaining hostages.

1. On 29 September 2025, during an Official Visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and the UAE, the Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Anthony Albanese MP, met the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Leaders celebrated the strong and enduring friendship between their two countries, which has grown since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1975.

The Albanese Government is delivering on our ambitious trade diversification agenda through the entry into force of the landmark free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 1 October.

This agreement builds on the Government's commitment to create new market access opportunities. It means more trade opportunities for Australian businesses and more high-paying local jobs for Australian workers.