Blog

Yesterday, the nation lost a hero.

Jim Stynes was a man who inspired fans across the nation playing Australia’s game.

An Irishman, imported from the other side of the world when he was just 18 to play a game foreign to him, he quickly became a master of it winning the Brownlow Medal in 1991.

I send my warmest best wishes to all Australians celebrating the Chinese New Year as we welcome the Year of the Dragon.

The Year of the Dragon is traditionally associated with strength, loyalty and luck – and I hope you and your family enjoy these qualities in abundance.

Today in Gatton, Queensland, the Prime Minister attended a commemorative service to mark the anniversary of the floods which devastated the area one year ago.

Today, we come together to celebrate the spirit of our nation.

Year after year many of us have spent Australia Day lazily watching the cricket, at the beach or around a barbie.  For most it’s a carefree day enjoyed with family and friends.

But this summer such hopes have not been realised.  Instead as a nation we have endured some of the worst floods in our history. Together we have shared shock and horror at the scale of the destruction and grieved for lost lives.

Throughout it all we have bonded together and reached out to each other with the hand of mateship. 

This evening Prime Minister Gillard presented the 2011 Australian of the Year Awards to four outstanding Australians.

Today in the lead up to Australia Day, Prime Minister Gillard addressed an Australia Day Luncheon in Adelaide Town Hall. 

The G-20 Summit brings together 20 of the World's Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss the global economy. The Prime Minister explained how the G-20 affected Australians and said,

"We know that the consequences of high rates of unemployment, weak global growth, risks in financial markets end up hurting people around the world.