ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Last night, the Senate passed the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund legislation. I went to the election with a clear commitment that I wanted a future made in Australia. And that's what this legislation is about. Recognising that during the pandemic, our vulnerabilities at the end of supply chains were exposed for all to see. We've been very good at exporting our resources and should continue to do so.

Today, the Prime Minister and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs launched a commemorative medallion to honour those who served in the Vietnam War.

The medallion is a small but meaningful way to honour the service of Vietnam veterans and to recognise the sacrifice of those who never returned home and that of their families.

WILLIAM BROWNLESS, HOST: Welcome to Triple M Melbourne.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be here. I'm a little bit nervous after that intro, I've got to say, Billy.

BROWNLESS: I did run for politics on the other side. Jeff Kennett tried to get me up.

PRIME MINISTER: There was your first mistake.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome the Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa, the Hon Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa, to Australia from 20 - 25 March as a guest of the Australian Government.

Australia and Samoa are close partners with a longstanding relationship that is underpinned by mutual respect and trust.

The Prime Ministers will discuss ways to strengthen our partnership and regional cooperation in support of a peaceful, prosperous and resilient Blue Pacific.

JAMES VALENTINE, HOST: The 'Rabbitoh in Chief' joins us this morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Good morning, Mr Albanese.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Good to be with you.

VALENTINE: You would have met John?

TIM BLACKWELL, HOST: When the man who does the Quick Draw rules for us every week wants to call and say 'G’day', we can't say no.
 
RICKI-LEE COULTER, HOST: No way.
 
TIM: Our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. Albo, g'day, mate.
 
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: G'day.
 
RICKI-LEE: Hello. How are you?
 
JOEL CREASEY, HOST: Prime Minister.
 

The Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Anthony Albanese MP, welcomed the Honourable Fiamē Naomi Mata’afa, Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa to Canberra on 22 March 2023. The Prime Ministers’ bilateral talks reflected the longstanding relationship between Australia and Samoa, underpinned by mutual respect and trust. The Prime Ministers affirmed their strong partnership and commitment to work together on shared challenges and priorities to support a stable, prosperous and resilient Pacific region.

ANTHONY ALBANESE. PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Well, Prime Minister Fiamē, you are a very welcome guest in Australia. And it is good to renew our friendship from when we first met at the Pacific Island Forum. My apologies for our Foreign Minister being absent because of COVID. But she wanted to make sure that she sent those apologies. Prime Minister, our countries have deep connections. We are very close neighbours. Both of us believe in the Pacific family.

STEVE WHAN, LABOR CANDIDATE FOR MONARO: Hello, my name's Steve Whan. I'm the Labor candidate for Monaro in the New South Wales election on Saturday, and I'm absolutely delighted to be able to welcome the Prime Minister here to Queanbeyan this morning, with our absolutely fabulous Federal Member, Kristy McBain, and Minister Jason Clare.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thank you very much, Mr President. We look forward to welcoming you down in Australia for the Quad Meeting in May. I'm sure it will be a very successful visit. And this is our fourth meeting, I haven't yet been Prime Minister for a year. So we've been in very regular contact and developed a personal friendship and relationship of trust as well, which is something that should be there between our two great nations. And today, what we've really done is just to demonstrate a next chapter in our history together.