KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: The Prime Minister, he joins us now. PM, good morning.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning.

STEFANOVIC: Nice to see you PM, how are you?

PRIME MINISTER: I’m very well. Congrats on the new gig, Sarah.

SARAH ABO, HOST: Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER: You missed out. Karl can tell you about the golden years of myself and Christopher Pyne at 6am in the morning every Friday there.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well this is my third visit to the Northern Territory as Prime Minister. I intended to come to Alice Springs in December, but COVID got in the way of that appointment. But today we've had very successful meetings and engagements. Firstly with the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, where we talked to people including Donna and John; the NPY Women's Council; we had a meeting with the Mayor of Alice Springs, Matt Patterson, and the leadership of the police, including Assistant Commissioners Dole and White.

The Australian Government is working in partnership with the Northern Territory Government and local communities to take action in response to the urgent challenges facing Alice Springs.

The Northern Territory Government will introduce immediate temporary restrictions on alcohol sales as a circuit-breaker measure to improve community safety in Central Australia.

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.

I am proud to lead a government committed to the Uluru Statement from the Heart, in full.

And I am optimistic that in 2023, Australians will embrace the democratic opportunity to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our nation's birth certificate, our Constitution.

Jodie and I are delighted to welcome you all to The Lodge this morning.

ANDREW CLENNELL, HOST: Prime Minister Albanese, thanks for joining us from The Lodge.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Welcome back to Canberra.

CLENNELL: Yes. Can I start with Alice Springs? Can we assume you forced the hand of the Northern Territory Government when it came to these alcohol restrictions yesterday?

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging.

I am proud to lead a government committed to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Later this year, in a referendum, every Australian will have the opportunity to take up the generous and gracious invitation to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in our nations' birth certificate - our Constitution - and to support a voice to Parliament.

The Australian Government has announced $70 million in additional funding towards upgrading Avoca Drive on the New South Wales Central Coast.

The additional funding comes on top of the Albanese Government’s $30m election commitment, bringing the total Australian Government funding to $100m.

The Australian Government will partner with the NSW Government to deliver the project.

The project will improve safety and reduce congestion on Avoca Drive, including widening the section between Carrak Road and Killuna Road intersections.

KYLE SANDILANDS, HOST: Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, good morning.

JACKIE O, HOST: Morning.

KYLE: Nice to hear you. How are you, buddy?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Happy New Year to you both.

KYLE: You too.

JACKIE O: You too. Well, it was big news yesterday with the New Zealand Prime Minister resigning.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Look, can I welcome you here very much. We haven't met before. But I've admired your work and your contribution, not just financially, but in raising debates, including the need to deal with health issues. We've just been through the pandemic, but we need to prepare for future health challenges, and the work that's being done on eradicating malaria and other diseases in our region is very important. And of course, climate change, my government was elected on the platform of taking climate change seriously.

HOST: It's the 500th episode of the Waterboys. Brent Costelloe, Blair Brownless and Cam Brown with you. And we've had some big name guests join us over our 500 episode journey. But we've arguably saved our most important for today. He's been part of our country's Federal Parliament since 1996 and last year became the 31st Prime Minister of Australia. It's my pleasure to announce that Anthony Albanese is joining us on the Waterboys. Prime Minister, good morning, and thanks so much for celebrating our special milestone with us.