Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has joined with leaders from across the region in Lima, Peru for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting.

APEC is the leading economic and trade forum for our Asia-Pacific region.

Keeping trade free, fair and open benefits all Australians. One in four Australian jobs are related to trade, and around 75 per cent of Australia's total trade is with APEC members.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's great to be at APEC and join leaders for official APEC meetings today and again tomorrow. The global economy is facing a worldwide surge in inflation, but Australia has weathered the storm better than most of our peers. One of the things that stood out from the sessions that were held this morning was the consistency of what leaders of APEC had to say. They all spoke about the global inflation challenge, they spoke about the challenge but also the opportunity of dealing with climate change.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'm very pleased to be here at APEC being hosted here in Lima, Peru, at the Economic Leaders' Meeting. And thank you all for joining me here. APEC comes at an important time for Australia and for the world. The world has been dealing with the global inflation challenge. Global challenges require global action. And that will be a focus of the APEC meeting over the next two days.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's wonderful to be here in Peru and I thank the Minister for the welcome that myself and Minister Julie Collins have had here this afternoon. APEC represents, with its 21 economies, some 75 per cent of Australia's trade. I brought the Agriculture Minister because that relationship is particularly important between Australia and APEC’s 21 economies. Over coming days, and then at the G20, we'll be discussing how trade is important for Australian jobs and for the Australian economy.

Two years ago, I had the honour of being asked to deliver the Bradfield Oration. It’s a great initiative by The Daily Telegraph, one that’s become a fixture on the calendar and a valuable contribution to a crucial conversation.

Unfortunately Covid kept me from attending, but I had the good fortune of Infrastructure Minister Catherine King delivering my words.

CRAIG REUCASSEL, HOST: The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese jets off to South America to attend the APEC Summit in Peru today and then heads to the G20 in Brazil. And before he heads off, he's in the studio with me. Good morning, Prime Minister.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, good to be with you.

JULIE COLLINS, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY: I’m Julie Collins. I’m the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and, of course, a very proud Tasmanian from down south. It's terrific to be up here, of course, with our Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, for yet another visit of his to Tasmania. And to be joined by our Senator for Tasmania, who's almost like a local member here, Anne Urquhart.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks very much for joining us at my second press conference today here in beautiful Tasmania, and indeed, it is a lovely day for what is a fantastic announcement. Now, Rebecca White is a person of conviction, she's a person of substance and she's a person who fights for what she believes in. That's why I've asked her to stand in the seat of Lyons. I believe very clearly that Rebecca is a future cabinet Minister from Tasmania. She's someone who, in the words of Brian Mitchell is a once in a generation politician.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel this week to Peru to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, and to Brazil to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit.

APEC and G20 play a critical role in steering the regional and global economies through current global economic challenges.

At these meetings, the Prime Minister will work closely with international partners to address global challenges and promote economic growth.

The Albanese Labor Government is investing more than $150 million to deliver the Great South East Irrigation Scheme and drive economic growth in Tasmania.

The project will deliver a significant boost to the Tasmanian economy and create more than 400 jobs.

Powered 100 per cent by hydroelectricity, it will provide water to grow iconic Tasmanian produce like cherries, apples, salad vegetables, grapes, stone fruit and olives.