STEPHANIE BORYS: Mr Albanese, thank you for your time. You've had a busy week in Malaysia and now South Korea. You've often talked about the uncertainty, the geostrategic uncertainty in the region. Given the past week that you've had, speaking with a number of leaders, are you more or less concerned about the outlook?
TIM LESTER: Prime Minister, thank you for speaking with Weekend Sunrise.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Always good to be on the programme, Tim, and from Korea today.
TIM LESTER: Indeed. You had the rare privilege, I guess, of sitting next to a US president at dinner. Most of us don't get that. Describe going to dinner with Donald Trump. What's it like?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's very warm. He's an engaging personality and he's certainly larger than life.
LIZ DANIELS: Prime Minister, thanks for joining us.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Great to be here. Thanks for joining us in Korea.
LIZ DANIELS: Thank you for having us. So, the last couple of weeks through the trip to Washington and this trip to Asia, it looks like you've had access all areas. After those talks with multiple leaders, what do you think of the state of the world and our place in it?
The Albanese Government is making the single largest investment in Medicare since its creation over 40 years ago, with our $8.5 billion package delivering on our commitment to more bulk billing and more doctors for all Australians.
For the first time, bulk billing incentives will be paid to GPs for every patient they bulk bill. Previously these incentives were only available to children under 16 and concession card holders.
The Albanese Government’s investment will deliver an additional 18 million bulk billed GP visits every year.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has concluded a successful visit to the Republic of Korea for the 2025 APEC Summit.
From 29 October to 1 November, the Prime Minister met with major partners to strengthen Australia’s trade and investment.
APEC is a key platform for advancing inclusive, sustainable growth. 75 percent of Australia’s global trade is with the member economies of APEC.
Leaders endorsed the Gyeongju Declaration which advances shared objectives under the Summit’s three priorities, ‘Connect, Innovate and Prosper’.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: The APEC Economic Leaders’ Summit has just concluded, and it was a very successful gathering. It was an opportunity for me as Australia's Prime Minister to meet, between here and also the East Asia Summit and ASEAN, to meet with more than 20 leaders. I have had bilateral formal meetings with eight of our leading partners as well as informal discussions. So, the first opportunity to meet the new Japanese Prime Minister, the first opportunity to meet the new Prime Minister of Thailand, as well as renew some old relationships as well.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It's been a very productive morning at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting here in Korea. The first APEC Meeting, of course, took place in Canberra 36 years ago. So, Australia has a real affinity with APEC. We have a sense of ownership as part of the reforms of how we engage in our own Pacific region in order to advance the economic growth of the region, with the focus, of course, on our desire to have jobs and economic activity in Australia. And that is very much my focus.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. It's fantastic to be here in Korea for the APEC Leaders’ Summit and it's been a busy time already. Yesterday, going to the memorial to pay tribute to the Australians for whom Korea is their final resting place, but also, to show respect to the more than 17,000 Australians who fought as part of the UN forces during the Korean War.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I'm very pleased to have arrived here in Korea for the APEC Summit. One in four of Australian jobs depends upon trade, and 75 per cent of Australia's trade is with APEC nations. This is the fastest growing region of the world in human history. And this week will be an opportunity for me to advance Australia's national interests. Shortly, I will also visit Australian war graves here at the cemetery. Some 281 Australians are laid to rest here.
ANWAR IBRAHIM, PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and ministers and colleagues, thank you very much. I've said this earlier that Prime Minister Albanese has been a good friend. You’ve been very supportive of our ventures and my meetings with him have been very fruitful, very candid, very open and both of us have really committed to enhance bilateral relations in terms of serious trade, investment ventures and this decision of Monash University to operate from TRX City the prestigious area is something very impressive.