Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome the Prime Minister of New Zealand, The Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, to Australia from 22-23 April as a guest of the Australian Government.

This will be Prime Minister Hipkins’ second visit to Australia as leader.

This year Australia and New Zealand are celebrating 80 years of diplomatic representation, 50 years of the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, and 40 years of our Closer Economic Relations Free Trade Agreement.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks for joining us. What a great way to start the day. It is an absolute pleasure to be here with our Federal Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek, and the newly sworn-in Environment Minister for New South Wales, Penny Sharpe. So congratulations to Penny on her appointment as part of the Minns Labor Government. We've just met a couple of very cute little bilbies, Opal and Ballara. And these beautiful animals are Australia's answer to the Easter Bunny. So it's a good time to make the announcement that we're making here today.

This Good Friday, the Australian Government is pleased to announce $6 million to support the Royal Children’s Hospital’s Good Friday Appeal.

The funding, to be delivered over the next three years, will help continue the hospital’s important work to ensure children and their families can access healthcare of the highest quality.  

It will help fund life-changing treatment, world-class research, leadership and training, to attract the brightest minds to help care for kids from Melbourne, Victoria and across Australia.

REBECCA MADDERN, HOST: How are you? Happy Easter.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I am very well. Happy Easter to you and all the people viewing out there. Greets from the Royal Easter Show in Sydney.

MIKE AMOR, HOST: Prime Minister, you've got a special announcement to make this afternoon?

The Prime Minister will be on leave for one week from Saturday 8 April 2023.

During this time, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister will be Acting Prime Minister.

Happy Easter, Australia.

For many, Easter Sunday is a holy day marking the resurrection – a celebration of faith, hope and renewal.

The variety of services, vigils and ceremonies across the Easter period speaks for our nation's diversity.

Of course, it's only possible for us to enjoy the long weekend because of the efforts of those Australians who are working through these public holidays.

Thank you for your contribution to our nation.

Finally, can I ask you all to please take care on the roads at this busy time for travel.

KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Mr Albanese, Happy Easter to you. Happy Easter Sunday. Easter is a time of hope, of course. Do you still have hope that you can win the Voice referendum?

DAVID LIPSON, HOST: Prime Minister, thanks for your time. The No case has launched its advertising campaign with the slogan, ‘don't know, vote no’. Is that a sign that the Yes side has a lot of work to do explaining how the Voice will actually help Indigenous people in practical terms?

SIMON BEAUMONT, HOST: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, good morning.

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

BEAUMONT: Thanks for coming into the studio today.

PRIME MINISTER: Always better in the studio.

BEAUMONT: It certainly is. You've been in here many times. The game yesterday, the football, did you enjoy it? What was your heart and your head saying yesterday?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It is terrific to be back in Adelaide with the South Australian Premier, Peter Malinauskas, the Deputy Premier, Susan Close, and Tony Zappia, one of the local Federal representatives whose constituents are going to get good, secure work as a result of our AUKUS commitments and the $2 billion that will be invested here in South Australia just across the forward estimates.