KENNY HEATLEY, HOST: The unofficial 2025 election campaign is underway with the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, launching a three state blitz to start the new year. Today, he's in Cairns in Queensland announcing $260 million to go towards community and housing infrastructure. And the PM joins me now. Prime Minister, good to see you.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning.

MATT SMITH, LABOR CANDIDATE FOR LEICHHARDT: Thank you all for coming along today. I am Matt Smith the federal candidate for the ALP for the federal seat of Leichhardt. I’m here with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister Catherine King and of course Senator Nita Green for some really exciting announcements today, not just for the seat of Leichhardt but for all of Australia. A lot around social housing on the Cape, which is absolutely fantastic. In and of itself social housing is really needed up there.

EMILY MAWSON, LABOR CANDIDATE FOR CAPRICORNIA: Well, it's great to be here this morning with the Prime Minister and Minister King and Senator Green and Senator Chisholm to talk about the Federal Government's $7.2 billion commitment to upgrading the Bruce Highway. Like many people in this region, I just made my Christmas and New Year holidays driving up and down the Bruce Highway to visit friends and family.

The Albanese Labor Government is building Australia’s future today, announcing $50 million to boost housing and deliver community infrastructure projects in Cairns and Far North Queensland.

Almost $25 million has been allocated through the Housing Support Program package to boost social housing supply across the region.  

This funding will support the delivery of increased social housing supply through the construction of enabling infrastructure and community amenities such as roads, stormwater drainage, earthworks and connection to utilities.

AARON STEVENS: We welcome the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, to Rockhampton this morning. Hello.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: G'day, Aaron. It's wonderful to be back in Rocky. Well, it's a beautiful morning today. I did the brekkie TVs down by the river and it was just stunning.

LUKE FORREST, HOST: Now, Brookie, we have a very special guest on the line, if not the biggest guest we've had on the show. It is the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese. How are you, Albo?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. I am very well. Greetings from beautiful Rockhampton this morning. The Fitzroy River was shining this morning. I've got to say, it was just lovely here.

JAYNE AZZOPARDI, HOST: Well, we are one week into 2025 and the Albanese Government has hit the ground running, making a pre-election cash splash to upgrade Queensland's Bruce Highway.

ALEX CULLEN, HOST: The $7.2 billion announcement comes as speculation grows about whether the PM will pull the trigger and call an early election. We're joined by Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, in Rockhampton right now. Prime Minister, good morning. Thank you so much for being with us. You look like you're on the campaign trail early. Will it be a March election?

MONIQUE WRIGHT, HOST: Well, to federal politics now. And the Coalition says that Australians will struggle with the cost of living crisis until at least 2030. The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese joins us now live this morning from Queensland. Good to see you Albo. Thanks for being with us.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning from beautiful Rockhampton.

BERN YOUNG, HOST: If you could give the Bruce Highway a rating out of five, I wonder what it would be from your point of view. Have you driven it lately? Maybe you had a break over Christmas and New Year and drove part of it, a stretch of it. Currently, the Bruce Highway doesn't score even three stars out of five officially. The Federal Government today has announced a record $7.2 billion that they're prepared to spend, $9 billion in total so that it can get to this minimum rating of three stars.

SHANE DOHERTY, HOST: As you've heard, the Prime Minister's announced a massive $7.2 billion to fix the Bruce Highway. That's a 7.2 with nine zeros after it, for the entire 1,673 kilometres of highway from Brisbane to Cairns – or by my calculations, $4.3 million per kilometre. And I'm pleased to say the Prime Minister joins us on 4BC Summer Drive. Prime Minister, we know the what, can you tell us the when?