MATT SMITH, LABOR FEDERAL CANDIDATE FOR LEICHHARDT: My name is Matt Smith. I'm the ALPs federal candidate for the seat of Leichhardt. Really excited to be here today with the Prime Minister, the Premier and the Ministers for this really exciting announcement about 490 homes being built right here in Cairns on this, the old drive in site, which has really laid dormant for the better part of almost three decades. There'll be a bit more details coming along, but one thing I want to touch on is these aren't just houses that we're building here, these are homes.

Work is planned to start next week on Queensland’s biggest ever social and affordable housing project, jointly funded by the Albanese and Miles Labor Governments.

The big housing build will deliver 490 homes in Woree and will be the biggest social and affordable housing project to be built in Queensland.

It’s aimed at older Queenslanders who are looking to downsize from their current home, and will in turn free up larger homes for families.

The complex will include 245 social, 223 affordable and 22 specialist disability apartments.

PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: It's been a shaky week for the Federal Government losing control of its housing agenda as the Help to Buy bill was stonewalled in the Senate, with the Prime Minister not ruling out a double dissolution election. The Government's industrial relations reforms also copped criticism, this time at the Business Council of Australia's annual dinner, which was attended by the Prime Minister.

MURRAY JONES, HOST: Well, housing security is just so important and there's certainly been a lot of talk, obviously, about youth crime in the state election, which is about to occur. And of course, those formative years, if you're in a household where you might be subjected to physical, emotional, sexual abuse, drug abuse, the whole lot, can set you on the wrong path.

CATHIE SCHNITZERLING, HOST: The Federal Government has been unable to bring on a vote on its Help to Buy First Home Buyer Scheme, which was set to fail but has now been delayed for two months. Where does this leave the Government's housing agenda? And could the fight with the Greens and the Coalition trigger an early election? Joining me on the phone right now is Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Good afternoon, Prime Minister.

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

TIM BLACKWELL, HOST: Ricki-Lee, Tim and Joel. It is a Wednesday afternoon. There's no Joel Creasey, but there is a Prime Minister on the line. Mr. Albanese, out of ten, what did you give the Sabrina Carpenter Taste track?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Oh, I give it an eight. But she hasn't got to play the Enmore, unlike Rick-Lee, in my hood.

RICKI-LEE COULTER, HOST: It was in your hood. But I also got to sing for you last week, I think it was. And I was so nervous when I saw you in the crowd.

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

When I spoke at this dinner last year, the Business Council of Australia had just published the “Seize the Moment” report.

Characteristic of the BCA, the report was broad in its scope and bold in its ambition.

It took stock of the decade past and identified six big changes required to make our economy more productive, competitive, dynamic and prosperous. 

RICHARD GLOVER, HOST: Prime Minister, welcome.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: G'day, Richard, good to be with you.

GLOVER: They say this bill, which will allow the government to take up to 40 per cent of equity in people's houses, therefore help them get the deposit together. They say it'll just push up the price of housing, which is the last thing we want to do.

We the leaders of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, mark the third anniversary of AUKUS – an enhanced security partnership that promotes a free and open Indo-Pacific that is secure and stable.  We reaffirm our shared commitment to this historic partnership and acknowledge the considerable progress to date. 

TANYA PLIBERSEK, MEMBER FOR SYDNEY: Well, welcome everybody to the federal seat of Sydney. It's so wonderful to have the Prime Minister here today and to have the Housing Minister, Clare O'Neil, here. We've been having a lovely time with Codie, hearing about her exciting journey to home ownership. When my parents came to Australia in the 1950s they came with nothing, and one of the first things they wanted to do was buy a home of their own.