Tomorrow we mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, and commemorate the sacrifice of the Australians who served.

Beginning on 25 June 1950, the Korean War saw North Korea (People’s Democratic Republic of Korea) launch an invasion of South Korea (Republic of Korea) in an attempt to unify the country under its communist government.

The Australian Government was one of 21 member countries to send personnel in support of the South in an attempt to unify the country between 1950 and 1953.

CHRIS HIPKINS, PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND: Welcome. It's great to be able to formally welcome you here to the New Zealand Parliament. My office and I were having a debate about how many times we've met in the six months that I've been Prime Minister, by my count it's five. So, two visits to Australia, then the King's Coronation, then NATO, and then it's great to be able to welcome you here. I think the trans-Tasman relationship, as I indicated in the House, is in very good shape.

1. The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, and the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, met in Wellington on 26 July 2023 for the annual Australia New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting.
2. The relationship between New Zealand and Australia is unlike any other. Our shared values, common outlook and people-to-people links underpin a critical partnership. New Zealand and Australia are family and working together is intrinsic to our respective interests.

CHRIS HIPKINS, PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND: Kia ora koutou. Good afternoon. It's a real pleasure to have been able to welcome Prime Minister Albanese to Wellington today for the annual leaders' meeting. This was the third formal bilateral meeting that we've had since I became the Prime Minister of New Zealand at the beginning of the year. Of course, we also had the opportunity to catch up at the King's Coronation and at the NATO summit in Lithuania, where we extended our commitment to Ukraine and reiterated our ongoing opposition to Russia's illegal invasion.

CHRIS HIPKINS, PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND: I've got a little gift bag for you here, Wellington in a bag. Lots of Wellington product innovation for you.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Very good.

PRIME MINISTER HIPKINS: Everything in here is made in Wellington.

PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: You've got coffee.

PRIME MINISTER HIPKINS: Coffee in a can. Peanut butter. Chocolate.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Wellington, New Zealand from 26 – 27 July to meet with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, The Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting.

Australia and New Zealand are close partners and allies. The leaders will discuss strengthening trans-Tasman cooperation in a range of areas including trade and investment, security and defence, our shared commitment to the Pacific region, and deepening connections between our people.

FRAN KELLY, HOST: Prime Minister, welcome to Mornings.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning Fran, good to be with you. Good to hear you back on the radio.

KELLY: Thanks very much. Well, are you happy to be the national cheerleader in chief for the Matildas during the World Cup?

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet. I pay my respect to their elders past, present and emerging, and I pay my respect to any Indigenous people who are joining us here today.

To Carole Crean and the members of the Crean Family, to Brigadier Robert Marsh representing the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Professor James Angus, the Lieutenant General of Victoria, to the Premier of Victoria, Dan Andrews and to Cath Andrews, and to Sussan Ley representing the Leader of the Opposition.

VIRGINIA TRIOLI, HOST: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, good morning and thank you for joining me.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Virginia. Good to speak with you, although it will of course be a very sad day for Simon's family, for his many friends and for the entire labour movement. We farewell a giant today at the Cathedral.

GLENN STOLZENHEIN, HOST: Good morning, Prime Minister. How are you going?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: G'day, great to be talking with you again.

STOLZENHEIN: Great to have you in this beautiful part of the world, of course. What's on the agenda today?