Like all in the Labor family, I am saddened to hear of the passing of Dallas Hayden. 

Dallas was a person of wonderful warmth and great depth, kind and gracious to strangers and friends alike. 

She spent many years playing supporting roles in public life and her optimism, her quiet courage and her strength of character were a powerful source of inspiration for her adoring husband, Bill.  

On behalf of the Australian Government and the Australian Labor Party, I offer our heartfelt condolences to Dallas Hayden’s family and friends. 

The M1 Pacific Motorway’s ‘missing link’ will finally be fixed, thanks to investment from the Australian and NSW governments.

Shovels have been put in the ground and the foundations laid for the transformative and vital M1 Pacific Motorway extension, which state and federal Ministers will visit today.

The $2.1 billion M1 extension, which includes upgrades to the surrounding network, such as the Hexham Straight widening, is funded by both levels of government, with the Australian Government committing $1.68 billion and the NSW Government committing $420 million.

RICHARD KING, HOST: The Prime Minister is going to be in my neck of the woods today alongside a number of his Ministers, Catherine King, the Infrastructure Minister, for a number of announcements, one of them being concerning the M1 Pacific Motorway. I think there are only two sections of the east coast M1 Motorway that are actually on urban roads, one being Coffs Harbour. I think the bypass there is due to be completed in 2027. It's certainly underway here, the Hexham Straight.

RAF EPSTEIN, HOST: It is not easy being an Australian Prime Minister and winning two elections. Paul Keating, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull, Scott Morrison, they all won once. Anthony Albanese, of course, won the last one. That is why he is Prime Minister. There'll be another at end of this year or the beginning of next year. It's not easy in modern politics. Anthony Albanese, good morning.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Raf. What an intro.

EPSTEIN: Just good bit of context.

SALLY SARA, HOST: The Foreign Affairs Minister, Penny Wong, heads to the Middle East this week as Australia plays a supporting role in the US-UK airstrikes in Yemen. US President Joe Biden confirmed the operation on Friday in response to the Houthis escalating attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The Houthis say its actions are in support of Palestinians under siege by Israel in Gaza and a warning of retaliation. The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese joins me now. Prime Minister, welcome, your first interview of 2024 back on RN Breakfast.

The Australian Government congratulates Crown Prince Frederik on His Highness’s  imminent succession to the Danish throne.

On behalf of the people of Australia, the Commonwealth Government will provide a gift of a national contribution to Wildcare Tasmania to support its work towards the conservation of the Tasmanian devil.

The Tasmanian devil, the largest surviving carnivorous marsupial, is now endangered and found only in the wild on our island state of Tasmania.

Recognising the broad consensus as expressed by 44 countries around the world on December 19, 2023, as well as the statement by the UN Security Council on December 1, 2023, condemning Houthi attacks against merchant and commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea, our governments issued a joint statement on January 3, 2024, which called for the immediate end of illegal attacks and warned that malign actors would be held accountable should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and the free flow of commerce in the region’s critical waterways.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's wonderful to be here at Frankston Bowling Club on such an absolutely wonderful glorious day here in Frankston. And it is good to be here for what is a very significant announcement. But first, I do want to acknowledge the contribution that my dear friend Peta Murphy made to this community, and to acknowledge Rod Glover, her husband of more than two decades, and this community for what has been a very significant loss.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: This is an opportunity to say thank you to the extraordinary personnel who are helping their fellow Victorians here. This wonderful facility is able to make sure that the coordination occurs across agencies. And you'll see increased Federal involvement here as well. Today, we've signed off on a commitment to provide further support to Victorians as a result of this flood event that continues to unfold.

MARK OLSEN, CEO OF TOURISM TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND: Good morning everybody and welcome. We gather here on the lands of the Djabugay people with some of the most important decision makers in the country. On behalf of the tourism industry here in tropical North Queensland we’re breathing a sigh of relief for many businesses have been cut off for as many as 28 days. Today we're announcing, the Prime Minister, the Premier, and this incredible raft of decision makers, including the Treasurer, are here to support the tourism industry in their time of need.