The Albanese Government is activating financial assistance through the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) for communities impacted by the recent bushfires in Victoria.

From 2pm local time on Wednesday 14 January 2026, the AGDRP will be available for eligible people in the following locations: Barkers Creek, Harcourt, Harcourt North, Longwood, Longwood East, Natimuk, Ravenswood South, Ruffy and Sutton Grange.

The Allan and Albanese Labor Governments are standing with Victorians who have been affected by the devastating fires that have torn through so much of the state.  

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Jacinta Allan visited emergency services on the ground in Central Victoria today to announce an initial $19.5 million support package for bushfire affected Victorians - jointly funded under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). 

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Australians across the country are facing extreme and dangerous weather conditions, with bushfires burning in multiple states, but particularly Victoria and severe weather across Far North Queensland and the North West Queensland region. My thoughts are with Australians in these regional communities at this very difficult time. Once again, I remind people to follow the advice of authorities. This is a time where Australians are once again, showing that at the worst of times, we see the best of the Australian character.

ALISON PIOTROWSKI, HOST: Well, it's taken three weeks, but the Prime Minister has finally announced a Royal Commission into antisemitism following the Bondi terror attack.

JOEL DRY, HOST: It comes 26 days on from the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since Port Arthur. Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, joins us now from Canberra. Prime Minister, why did you take so long to call the Royal Commission? Did you fold under pressure?

OLIVIA CAISLEY, HOST: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joins us live from Canberra. Prime Minister, good morning to you.

DAVID WOIWOD, HOST: Yesterday, the Federal Government announced it would open a Commonwealth Royal Commission into antisemitism, bowing to weeks of mounting pressure. And the Prime Minister joins us live now in Canberra. Good morning to you, Prime Minister.

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

MICHAEL ROWLAND, HOST: Prime Minister, welcome to 7:30.

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

ROWLAND: Why did it take you so long to read the national room on a federal royal commission?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon. I'm joined today by the Attorney General, the Minister for Home Affairs and the Special Envoy on Antisemitism. Just 25 days ago, two gunmen armed with high powered weapons went to Bondi Beach on the first night of Chanukah and they murdered 15 innocent people. They wounded dozens more - men, women and children. This was an antisemitic terrorist attack aimed at Jewish Australians inspired by ISIS, the deadliest that has ever occurred on Australian soil.

The Albanese Labor Government will establish a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in response to the Bondi terrorist attack.

The Government has asked Former High Court Justice the Hon Virginia Bell AC to serve as Commissioner.

Ms Bell has the deep experience and expertise to conduct her inquiry in such a way that meaningfully examines the impact of antisemitism on the daily life of Jewish Australians – and works to promote social cohesion.

GREG CAMPBELL, MAYOR OF CLONCURRY: Good afternoon and welcome to Cloncurry. I’d like introduce and welcome the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to Cloncurry, as well as Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for everything Local Government and Regional Australia, Kristy McBain. And to all of you. This is a fairly huge, significant event that’s been impacting the Cloncurry Shire and the Greater North West region at the moment. A weather event that has dropped over a year’s worth of rainfall in two or three days, and in places [INDISTINCT].