I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging.
It’s great to be here in Melbourne again and to be back at a conference that has always grappled with the big challenges and this year looks ahead to a ‘defining decade’.
More and more, this means looking beyond Australia’s borders.
It is an honour to stand here as Labor Leader, and as Prime Minister, and pay respect to all that Bill Hayden did – for his party, and for the country he loved.
Bill gave the Australian Labor Party the chance of a future. Patiently, humbly, courageously, he gave Labor fresh relevance and new focus.
He made it possible for Labor to return to its core mission of governing in the national interest and lifting the lives of Australians.
DAVID DOWSETT, HOST: And Anthony Albanese will soon be in Beijing, the first visit by an Australian leader in seven years. But today, a ginger beer in Bundaberg. Prime Minister, good morning.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. It's wonderful to be back in this beautiful part of the world.
DOWSETT: Yes. So, you're here to crack open our most famous soft drink’s new factory?
The global success of Bundaberg Brewed Drinks is set to continue as the business’s new super brewery is opened in Bundaberg today.
The new facility will allow for increased production of the brand’s iconic ginger beer and other soft drinks, further ensuring the company’s growth for many years to come.
The $152.4 million facility took two years to construct and includes an innovation centre, large storage and cold room facilities, a laboratory as well as manufacturing and processing equipment.
ELLERINA MCPHERSON, HOST: We've had a lot of grand guests on. But I'm very excited for this one in particular, we did mention today. He's got a lot of nicknames.
JOE BAXTER, HOST: Maybe use his real name.
MCPHERSON: You may know him as Mr Albanese. You may know him as Anth the man. You may know him as lemon squeezy. Or you may know him as the Prime Minister. Mr Anthony Albanese, good morning.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Wonderful to be with you, I think.
CLIFF FLEMING, BUNDABERG BREWED DRINKS FOUNDER: Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia and distinguished guests. I thank you for coming and honouring us today, Prime Minister. It is a very important day for our family. It's a combination of a dream, a dream where fifty-five years ago I came to Bundaberg and established a little business called Electra Breweries in Electra Street and it started with family and two employees.
TOM SMITH, MEMBER FOR BUNDABERG: Well ladies and gentlemen my name is Tom Smith, I'm the State Member for Bundaberg, and today is such an exciting day for the entire Bundaberg region and of course for the family here owning Bundaberg Brewed Drinks. We know how important manufacturing is to the Bundaberg region and we know how important that community feel is. So to the family who has every part of Bundaberg as Bundaberg is part of them, congratulations on such a great event.
TIM, HOST: Welcome, Prime Minister.
JOEL, HOST: Hello, Prime Minister.
RICKI-LEE, HOST: Hello.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be here. Not the first inappropriate conversation I've overheard on Nova.
RICKI-LEE: It's just a daily occurrence in here, I’m sorry.
PRIME MINISTER: It just happens. It just happens.
RICKI-LEE: How are you?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Can I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners and pay my respects to elder's past, present and emerging, and to say, it's fantastic to be here in Kirrawee, and I thank the school principal, the teachers, and importantly, the students for the very warm welcome here today.
The Australian Government has today launched Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 to deepen Australia’s economic engagement with our region and ensure our shared future prosperity.
The strategy, developed by Mr Nicholas Moore AO, Special Envoy for Southeast Asia, was announced by the Prime Minister at the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Forum in Jakarta today.
It sets out a practical pathway to increase Australia’s two-way trade and investment with the region.