CATHIE SCHNITZERLING, HOST: Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese visited Clermont in flood ravaged Central Queensland yesterday to announce another $26.6 million in joint Federal-State funding to help the region recover from the impact of ex tropical Cyclone Koji. At least 50,000 cattle have been killed in this flooding event that has gripped the state from the central area up to the North West. And countless grazing and small businesses are in real trouble.
KELLY VEA VEA, MAYOR OF ISAAC REGIONAL COUNCIL: Thank you everyone for being here, but the biggest thank you obviously goes to our guests today. I’d like to thank you all for making the time for coming out here. What's happened out in our region is significant. And from the event that's happened here in Clermont this week, not only will we recover, but we will grow stronger for that. And we'll grow stronger because that's just who we are out here in the regions.
The Albanese and Crisafulli Governments have today committed a further $26.6 million towards long-term recovery in flood devastated parts of north, north-west and central Queensland.
This funding will target recovery for primary producers, small businesses, flood clean-up, and mental health.
The assistance is in response to extensive flooding caused by the North Queensland Monsoon Trough and ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji that together have brought record rainfall from Christmas through the new year.
New measures include:
DOM KNIGHT, HOST: The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has recalled Parliament for two days next week to debate the federal government's legislative response to the Bondi terror attack. It now seems though that the Coalition will vote against the bill, which includes changes to both gun and hate speech laws. Despite spending weeks criticising the PM for not immediately recalling Parliament in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, the Coalition is now citing concerns that the legislation has been rushed.
Today marks one month since the devastating antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.
On December 14, hundreds of Jewish Australians had gathered in that iconic spot in our beautiful country, from babies at their first Chanukah to doting grandparents.
They had come together to reaffirm their faith’s message of the victory of light over darkness. For everyone mourning loved ones and friends, for our proud and courageous Jewish Australian community and for every Australian affected by this act of evil, the shock, pain and grief is still raw.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, thanks for joining us. And I'm joined by the Foreign Minister, Penny Wong. Can I firstly express my condolences to the family and friends of Maxwell Hobson who lost his life in the Victorian bushfires. That community will be grieving today. And I say to those people in Victoria, but also those in the flood affected areas of North Queensland, this is not over.
It is with deep appreciation for his tireless contribution to our national interests over the last three years in Washington that we today announce the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC will conclude his posting as Australia’s Ambassador to the United States at the end of March 2026.
Dr. Rudd has decided to accept the role of global President of leading international relations think tank, the Asia Society, which has recently become vacant and which Dr. Rudd headed between 2021-2023. Dr. Rudd will also head the Society’s Centre for China Analysis.
A State Funeral Service for the Honourable Ronald Boswell AO will be held at St Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane on Friday, 16 January 2026.
Ron Boswell was a stalwart of the National Party and a lifelong advocate for rural and regional Australia.
He was elected to Federal Parliament in 1983 as a Senator for Queensland, launching a career which spanned three decades.
From 1990 to 2007 Mr Boswell was the leader of the National Party in the Senate, and held the role of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services from 1999 to 2003.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon. Firstly, can I say that following my visit to Victoria yesterday, to Bendigo, to Ravenswood and to Harcourt, we received the devastating news of a loss of life. Our thoughts go to the family, the friends and the community who are impacted by this. And our thoughts are also with all those who are still doing it incredibly tough, those people who have lost their homes - 47 in Harcourt alone. These are communities that are under real pressure.
Federal Parliament will be recalled to deal with important national security legislation in the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack.
The Prime Minister will write to the Speaker asking for the House of Representatives to sit on Monday 19 January and Tuesday 20 January. Senator Wong as Leader of the Government in the Senate will be writing in similar terms to the President.
The first order of business will be a condolence motion to remember those who lost their lives and those whose lives were forever changed by this antisemitic terrorist attack.