Well thank you Kate.
It's terrific to be here with you, with Minister Pat Conroy, with the representatives of the Pacific who are here to launch these Pacific Rugby League Championships.
I do want to also acknowledge the work of all of those who've made this happen, including the coaches, Mal Meninga and Ben Jeffries.
Welcome.
It is an honour to be here to launch these championships.
The Albanese Government is partnering with the National Rugby League to establish the new Pacific Rugby League Championships.
The inaugural Pacific Championships will feature women’s and men’s teams from Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tonga.
The Government is committing $7 million over the next two years so that seven Pacific countries are included in the Championships and for games to be played in Papua New Guinea and Fiji as well as Australia and New Zealand.
JASON HAWKINS, HOST: Albo's in the house.
LAUREN PHILLIPS, HOST: Albo, good morning.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: 'Straya.
PHILLIPS: 'Straya, that's us. Good morning, welcome to the show.
PRIME MINISTER: Good to be here. Thanks for having us.
PHILLIPS: I always get nervous when you're around. And they tease me about it.
PRIME MINISTER: No you don't.
Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister: This is the third meeting of the Cabinet to be held in Queensland. And it's great to be back here. And most of us, of course, will spend the week here into the weekend.
The first thing I want to say is that all of us are relieved that the four Australians who were missing in Indonesia have been found.
We thank the DFAT officials and Australian government agencies who have assisted with the search and rescue efforts.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Can I join you in congratulating the wonderful William Barton on his awards.
VALENTINE: Yeah, he's such a magnificent musician. If you haven't encountered his music, just look him up and start engaging with it. He's a composer. His didg playing is incredible. Have you ever heard him sing?
AMANDA KELLER, HOST: The Matildas have secured a spot in the Semi-final. Another public holiday will be on the cards for New South Wales, other states around the country have to decide those things for themselves. Someone who was there with the sell-out crowd, the atmosphere must have been extraordinary was our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. He joins us now. Good morning, Prime Minister.
Well, thanks so much Alan and I also begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we're meeting today and pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging.
And I am proud to lead a Government which will give every Australian the opportunity to vote for Constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at a referendum later this year.
I want to acknowledge my parliamentary colleagues who are here, the executive and staff of Qantas who are here, the people from the Yes23 campaign.
Rafael Epstein, Host: The Prime Minister was there, he's lucky. Thank you for coming into the studio.
Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister: Good to be here, Raf.
Epstein: Very seriously, and also jokingly, like isn't it insane to talk about a public holiday and you're jinxing them before it happens?
Prime Minister: I got asked about it on radio. So Raf as you know, I do a fair bit of radio –
Christian O'Connell, Host: Do you need a coffee or anything?
Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister: Coffee, now we're talking.
O'Connell: Yes. What would you like? What do you have?
Prime Minister: A flat whitey sort of thing, yeah that would be great.
O'Connell: Are we your first chat of the day?
Prime Minister: You are.
MICHELLE ANANDA-RAJAH, MEMBER FOR HIGGINS: Well, good morning, everyone. It's wonderful to be here to see brick and mortar. This is the great Australian dream and we are making it a reality. It's wonderful to have PM here along with the Premier, Dan Andrews, and the Minister, Julie Collins, you won't find three greater champions for social and affordable housing in this country. And the fact that they're all here is a testament to the need for all tiers of government to work together. And to have this in my own electorate in Higgins is fantastic.