ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, that was a truly innovative opening, the best ribbon cutting I've ever seen.
JOURNALIST: What inside this building could you see this morning that you think will help help transition workers in Muswellbrook?
BEN FORDHAM, HOST: He's been around the world representing Australia and obviously criss-crossing the country, busy being Prime Minister. But I'm very happy to say that he's in the 2GB studios with us this morning. And he's feeling a little bit nervous, Anthony Albanese, because right after this interview, he's taking part in the Prime Minister's Spelling Bee. And he tells me last year that he was beaten by a 12-year-old. Prime Minister, good morning to you.
Australia will provide 30 additional Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles to Ukraine, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to their defence against Russia's aggression.
The contribution expands on Australia's previous commitment of 90 protected mobility vehicles, taking Australia's provision of Bushmasters to Ukraine to 120. This takes Australia's total military assistance provided to over $710 million and Australia's overall assistance to Ukraine to approximately $890 million.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I was very pleased this morning to meet with President Zelenskyy, our latest meeting after we met briefly at the G7 meeting a couple of months ago in Hiroshima. I conveyed to him the ongoing support of the Australian Government, and indeed the Australian people, for the struggle of the people and Government of Ukraine to defend their national sovereignty, to defend the international rule of law, and to condemn once again Russia's atrocities that have been committed in this illegal and immoral war.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: This morning I've met with President Zelenskyy and confirmed Australia's support for the people of Ukraine in their struggle to uphold their national sovereignty, to uphold the international rule of law.
OLIVER PETERSON, HOST: Prime Minister, welcome back to Perth.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be back here
PETERSON: How was NATO?
RUSSELL CLARKE, HOST: Prime Minister, good afternoon.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be here, mate. It's great to be back in Perth.
CLARKE: So, you went to Germany which was very important and then you had a rather important meeting in Lithuania in Vilnius for NATO.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: This morning the Cabinet has met and agreed with the recommendation from the Treasurer, supported by myself, that Michele Bullock be appointed as the ninth Reserve Bank Governor. Michele will be the first female Governor since the independent RBA was founded in 1959. After close to four decades of service to the RBA, most recently as the Deputy Governor, Ms Bullock is eminently qualified to lead this national institution.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: This morning, Australia and Germany have signed an agreement to deliver more than 100 Boxer Heavy Weapon Carriers from Australia to Germany. This is a deal worth over $1 billion, it is one of Australia's largest ever defence export deals in history. These will be produced in Queensland creating, of course, the 1000 jobs that are there at Rheinmetall in Brisbane. This is good for our defence, this is good for our national sovereignty, but it's also good for our economy.
Australia is steadfast in supporting Ukraine to defend itself against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion. Ensuring Ukraine can receive international assistance is a crucial part of that.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will deploy a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to Germany for approximately six months from October to help protect a vital gateway of international humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine. This deployment includes up to 100 crew and support personnel.