ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Thank you very much. It is indeed a great honor to host Prime Minister Rabuka today. And it was wonderful to be hosted by the Prime Minister in Fiji very soon after his election. And it has been great to be able to renew our friendship on a face-to-face basis. The Prime Minister is here for a number of days, and I look forward to hosting the Prime Minister at The Lodge tonight with his delegation with a range of my Ministers. Australia deeply values the close and long-standing partnership that we have with Fiji.

PRIME MINISTER, ALBANESE: Prime Minister Rabuka, it is an honour to host you today. And it is wonderful that you have brought Suluweti here as well and your delegation, you’re all very welcome. You welcomed me so warmly to Nadi earlier this year. And it is my pleasure to return the hospitality.

PRIME MINISTER, RABUKA: Do they know what you, what you did the day before, the day before, you called me.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda in Canberra today – the first visit by a Lithuanian President to Australia in 17 years.

The productive relationship between Australia and Lithuania is underpinned by shared democratic values, a commitment to human rights and open markets, and strong people-to-people ties.

ALLAN ALDWORTH, HOST: The Prime Minister of our country, Anthony Albanese, good morning. Helps if I turn your mic on, how disrespectful to the Prime Minister. Once again, good morning.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. And it's fantastic to be back here in Perth. And what a beautiful day.

CARLY PORTCH, HOST: It is.

ALDWORTH: It is. We've turned it on for you, mate. We've turned it on.

PETE: Good morning to your Prime Minister. Welcome back to Perth.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. I like the Blur introduction. That was very good.

KYMBA, HOST: Only the best, only the best. You happy to be here? Going to be here for most of Telethon?

PRIME MINISTER: I am here for a couple of days for Telethon. I got in last night, flew over straight after Parliament rose. And it's a beautiful day out there, I've got to say.

TANIA LAWRENCE MP, MEMBER FOR HASLUCK: Good morning and welcome to North Metropolitan TAFE in Midland, in the seat of Hasluck. I'm Tania Lawrence, the Member for Hasluck. And it gives me great pleasure to be today joined with the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Premier Roger Cook, my state parliamentary colleagues, the teachers, the trainers and students of North Metro TAFE. When we, even before the election in 2022, we knew we had a skills and labour shortage.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomes the Prime Minister of Fiji, The Hon Sitiveni Rabuka, and Mrs Suluweti Rabuka to Australia from 16 - 21 October for an official Guest of Government visit.

Australia and Fiji have a close and longstanding relationship that is underpinned by mutual respect and trust.

The Prime Ministers will renew and elevate the Fiji-Australia Vuvale Partnership, which has set out the shared principles and priorities of our relationship since 2019 - and work together to strengthen peace, prosperity and resilience in the Pacific.

Australian quantum science, biotechnology and outstanding teaching are all being recognised and celebrated in this year’s Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science.

Leading Australian quantum scientist Professor Michelle Simmons AO from UNSW Sydney has received the $250,000 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science for her pioneering developments in quantum computing.

Professor Simmons has championed breakthrough advancements to electronic parts for quantum computing, including components as small as one atom.

National Cabinet met virtually today to discuss issues of national importance and agree to a new National Skills Agreement.

National Skills Agreement

First Ministers endorsed the new National Skills Agreement, building on National Cabinet’s close cooperation on other priorities, such as housing and planning.

The Agreement will support a new way of working together to deliver the nation’s social and economic priorities through shared stewardship of the vocational education and training (VET) system.

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.

Dr Cathy Foley says ‘science is humanity’s superpower’.

It’s my great honour to be with all of you tonight, as we celebrate the super heroes of Australian science.  

Some of our nation’s leading scientists and science teachers.

People advancing the frontiers of discovery - and inspiring a new generation to discover a love of science.