Talofa.

Thank you Prime Minister Fiame for hosting this event today.

In August in Tonga, as Pacific Leaders we agreed to a major new chapter in our region’s collective security – the Pacific Policing Initiative.

Today, it is privilege to join my fellow Pacific leaders in welcoming officers from 11 nations, representing the first ever Pacific Police Support Group deployment.

Putting the words of our agreement into action - and demonstrating the spirit of regional co-operation.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has today joined other Pacific leaders to mark the first deployment of the new Pacific Police Support Group, part of the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI), backed by Australia and endorsed by Pacific Island Forum leaders in August 2024.

More than 40 police officers from 11 Pacific countries are part of this deployment, providing security support for Samoa’s hosting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.  The deployment includes officers from Pacific partners trained at the PPI’s Pinkenba training hub in Brisbane.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I've just come from the opening session of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting here in Samoa. And apart from what was a rather extraordinary cultural display, including all the countries of the Pacific, including Australia, the speech of His Majesty King Charles was, of course, a highlight. King Charles spoke about the existential threat of climate change to our region. He also spoke about the need to not divide, but to come together in our common interest as a Commonwealth.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, Prime Minister, it was great to catch up informally last night, and good to have our first formal meeting this morning. We know each other quite well, through both meetings and the phone hook-ups etc, that we've had over the years. But I congratulate you very much on behalf of Australia for your election. I look forward to very much working with you. We share common values. And the work that we can do together in the international rule of law, in upholding international human rights, the work that we've done with common interests.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, met today on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Apia, Samoa.

This was the first meeting between the two leaders since the election of the Starmer Government.

The Prime Ministers discussed Australia’s and the United Kingdom’s modern and dynamic relationship, underpinned by close personal ties and strong security, trade and investment links.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's great to be here in Samoa for the 75th anniversary of CHOGM. The Commonwealth is an important body of which Australia is an important country. The Commonwealth is home to one third of the world's population – or two and a half billion people – and we share history, we share common values as democracies and it’s an opportunity to talk about the shared challenges which we have, including dealing with the challenge of climate change, but also the opportunity that it represents.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Samoa from 24 to 26 October for the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

This will be his first visit to Samoa as Prime Minister.

Encompassing around a third of the world’s population, the Commonwealth has a strong record of multilateral cooperation to promote human rights and shared values.

Australia is proud to support Samoa as host of a uniquely Pacific CHOGM — the first to be hosted by a Pacific island country.

Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla have concluded an historic visit to Australia.

The Royal visit was The King’s first visit to Australia as Sovereign.

It showcased the very best of modern Australia, including our strong communities, scientific innovation and rich cultural diversity.

In Canberra, Their Majesties honoured fallen Australians at the Australian War Memorial, visited Parliament House and learned more about Australia’s unique environment and the impact of climate change on our ecosystems at the National Botanic Gardens.

Your Majesty,

For decades, you have been warmly welcomed to our country by generations of Australians as the Prince of Wales.

Here, in the heart of our democracy, it now gives us the greatest pleasure to welcome you for the first time as sovereign – and to welcome alongside you Her Majesty, Queen Camilla.

Since your first visit in 1966, you have been taken into Australian hearts – just as you have taken us into yours.

You have known the great natural beauty of this continent in all its challenge and all its reward.

The Albanese Government has committed $6 million to the Channel 7 Telethon Trust to help improve the health and wellbeing of Australian babies and children.

Telethon is an annual televised fundraising appeal in Western Australia and is broadcast live for 26 hours.

Over the past five decades Telethon has raised more than $600 million for sick and disadvantaged children in Western Australia.