SABRA LANE, HOST: Good morning and welcome to AM. I'm Sabra Lane coming to you from Nipaluna, Hobart. The Economic Roundtable at Parliament House in Canberra next week has no shortage of ideas. Suggestions include a cut in the company tax rate, expanding the Goods and Services Tax, a new road user charge to include electric vehicles, and now a four day working week. The Reserve Bank has made sure boosting productivity will be front and centre at the summit.
KATE THWAITES, MEMBER FOR JAGAJAGA: Good morning everyone, and welcome to Rosanna where we are building 45 social and affordable homes. You can see here what a great location this is, just near the train station, shops, near our health precinct in Heidelberg. This is going to be fantastic for women and children leaving family violence, for older women at risk of homelessness. Our government understands that people have better lives when they have a safe and secure roof over their head - and that's what we're delivering here.
KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: More now on Australia's historic diplomatic shift, announcing plans to formally recognise the state of Palestine.
SARAH ABO, HOST: The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese joins us live now from Melbourne. PM, good morning to you. So, the Palestinian community says this doesn't go far enough. They think -
BRIDGET BRENNAN, HOST: Time now to talk about our top story, that of the Australian Government making the decision that it will recognise a Palestinian state. And the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, joins me now from Melbourne. Good morning to you, Prime Minister.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Good to be with you.
BRENNAN: It's taken more than 70 years for a decision like this to be made. How do you think this moment will be remembered in the years to come?
NATALIE BARR, HOST: For more on the Palestine decision, the Prime Minister joins us live in Melbourne. Good morning to you.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning Nat, good to be with you.
BARR: Do you think this announcement that you made yesterday will actually change anything on the ground in Gaza?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Today, I can confirm that at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, Australia will recognise the State of Palestine. Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own, predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority. We will work with the international community to make this right a reality.
Australia will recognise the State of Palestine at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, to contribute to international momentum towards a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza and release of the hostages.
Since 1947, Australia has supported Israel’s existence. In that year, Australia’s Foreign Minister Evatt chaired the UN committee that recommended the creation of two states side by side.
Then, as now, the international community understood a two-state solution was the basis of peace and security for the peoples of the region.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: When Australians think of New Zealand, we think of the Anzacs and we think of the sacrifice that we've made together in defence of our freedom. Australia and New Zealand are great friends. We think alike and we act alike on the international stage.
CHRISTOPHER LUXON, PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND: Kia ora. Good afternoon, everybody. As you know, the Prime Minister and I have just concluded our formal leaders' meeting. We’ll take questions in a moment but before we do say, I want to make a few brief remarks, and then I'll pass to Prime Minister Albanese to do likewise. Let me open by just reiterating what an absolute pleasure it is to welcome you to Queenstown, Anthony.