The Albanese Government is standing with communities impacted by devastating floods in the Hunter and Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, with further support activated to help people get back on their feet.

From Tuesday 27th May, Australian Defence Force personnel alongside members of Disaster Relief Australia will be deployed to support New South Wales authorities with clearance, clean up and early recovery operations.

CHRIS MINNS, PREMIER OF NEW SOUTH WALES: Thanks, everybody, for being here. It's important that you're here this afternoon. Very appreciative to have the Prime Minister alongside Commissioner Wassing, Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib, local MPs, federal MPs, to talk about the devastation over the last three days. A couple of things I'd like to say. Firstly, the weather that has brought such devastation and enormous anxiety to the local community is moving south, which is good news. However, we need to report that there are still 39 emergency warnings still in place.

FIONA POOLE, HOST: The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, joins us now. Prime Minister, thanks for being with us.

MARK LEVY, HOST: Let's catch up with the Prime Minister. Right now, as I've mentioned, he's on his way to the flood affected areas of the Mid North Coast. He's on the line right now. Prime Minister, good morning to you.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: G' day, Mark. Good to be with you but sorry about the circumstances. I understand you just spoke to the Premier. I'm just waiting where we're about to meet up in a short period of time before we travel together to go to Taree.

ANNOUNCER: This is Tanya and Steve. We hear our Prime Minister isn't the biggest fan of Phil Collins.

STEVE GRAHAM, HOST: Yeah, well, you know, he goes, all right, but there's a couple of songs we can’t stand.

TANYA WILKS, HOST: Prime Minister, good morning.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Sorry about that, I've outed myself there.

PAUL TURTON, HOST: The catastrophic flooding across New South Wales, of course, that has impacted on so many communities, including here in the Hunter, will of course require a substantial response from all levels of government. The Prime Minister has already taken steps to address the crisis and joins me now. Prime Minister Albanese, thanks for coming on today. Good morning.

RICHARD KING, HOST: It's all hands on deck, including our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, who I believe is on the way to our area. And the Prime Minister is on the line. Good morning, Prime Minister.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Richard. Good to be with you, but sorry about the circumstances of this visit to the Hunter and the Mid North Coast.

KING: Yeah. You're headed our way this morning, I believe, Prime Minister?

CHRIS BATH, HOST: The Prime Minister's just called in to 702 ABC Radio Sydney Drive, and far be it from me to knock back a call from the Prime Minister. Good afternoon, Prime Minister. Thanks for calling.

PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon, Chris. Good to be with you. Although, very difficult circumstances for the communities dealing with these devastating floods in the Mid North Coast and in the Hunter region.

I have recommended to Her Excellency the Governor-General Sam Mostyn that the opening of the 48th Parliament take place on Tuesday 22 July 2025.

A proposed Parliamentary sitting calendar can be found on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website.

The Government is humbled by the support of the Australian people.

I look forward to advancing the Government’s legislative agenda over the coming Parliamentary term.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Can I just say it's good to be back, arrived in the early hours of this morning after what was a very successful visit. Indonesia is such an important relationship for us, and we were looked after very well by President Prabowo. I had an extensive one on one meeting with him, as well as our leaders’ meeting. And I look forward to President Prabowo visiting Australia later this year. In addition to that, I had a meeting on the way back with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who was re-elected as Prime Minister on 3rd May 2025, at the same time.