My friend, Prime Minister Marape, on behalf of the Government and the people of Australia, it is a great pleasure to so warmly welcome you to the heart of our democracy.
You are the first leader of another nation to address us in this chamber since 2020.
And the first leader of a Pacific island nation to address the Australian Parliament, ever.
It is fitting that such an honour belongs to Papua New Guinea.
Australia and Papua New Guinea are close in every sense of the word.
We are the nearest of neighbours.
The most steadfast and trusted of partners.
KATY GALLAGHER, MINISTER FOR WOMEN: Thanks everyone for joining us here today at the important event of UN Women's Breakfast. Kicks off the International Women's Day festivities, and this year it's focusing on counting women in and around economic empowerment for women and driving economic opportunity for women. And of course, one of the most important things in the parliament right now is our tax changes, which when you look at them and look at them carefully, 90 per cent of Australian taxpayers will be better off under the Labor tax plan.
I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.
The lead-up to International Women’s Day is an opportunity for all of us to recognise the progress that women are driving across our economy and our society.
It’s a chance to re-affirm our commitment to true gender equality – in the community, the boardroom, on the sporting field, in our parliaments.
Above all, this is a time when we must face-up to where we are falling short and look for new ways to do better.
SARAH FERGUSON, HOST: Prime Minister, welcome to 7:30.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good evening.
FERGUSON: Now, the opposition is going to vote your tax cuts through. Does that tell you that you got the politics right on this issue?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea the Hon James Marape MP, back to Australia for an official visit from 7 to 9 February 2024.
This latest meeting between Prime Ministers will build on our Bilateral Security Agreement signed last year, and address security and economic cooperation, infrastructure and deepening people-to-people links.
During the visit Prime Minister Marape will address both Members and Senators of the Parliament of Australia. This will be the first in-person address by a foreign leader since 2020.
We're here today to mark 40 years of Medicare.
Last Thursday, I was in Robertson with Emma and Dr. Gordon Reid, appropriate that I was with a pharmacist and a doctor there in Umina at an Urgent Care Clinic last Thursday to mark Medicare's birthday.
One of the things that we're reminded of is that Medicare wasn't the first iteration. The first iteration was, of course, Medibank.
And today, we remember our friend the late Bill Hayden as well. As we commemorated his life, but one of his greatest achievements was of course Medibank.
PRIME MINISTER: Can I say that all Australians will be sending their best wishes to King Charles for a speedy recovery. This is difficult news. And we hope for King Charles, for His Majesty and for all of their family, all of the very best. We want to see His Majesty return to full duties as soon as possible. We, of course, look forward to the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting that will be held in our region. And of course, we have invited King Charles to visit Australia and we sincerely hope that is able to occur.
We gather in this solemn place, and we gather in peace.
Peace is not a given. For many across the world right now, it is tragically elusive.
We do not take peace for granted.
The peace that we gather in here today is the gift to us from generations of Australians who have taken up arms in our name.
It is a peace shared now with the places where so many of them fell.
Beaches where the waves roll in the sea’s eternal rhythm.
Meadows of flower and birdsong.
Places where there is little to hint at the killing fields they once were.
DAVID SPEERS, HOST: Prime Minister, welcome to the program.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, David.
SPEERS: Iraq says the strikes are disastrous for both security and stability in the region. Do you think they are appropriate?