The Albanese Labor Government is supporting the growth, resilience and sustainability of Australia’s agricultural sector, with an additional $1 billion in new loan funding through the Regional Investment Corporation (RIC).
RIC administers support for farmers facing hardship with concessional loans for farm businesses and drought-affected farm-related small businesses.
SARAH ABO, HOST: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joins us live now from Ballarat. Good morning to you, PM.
KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: Hey, PM.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Friday morning. I feel –
ABO: I won't interrupt you, PM. Go on.
PRIME MINISTER: Just feeling a bit of deja vu here. Me and Karl, Friday morning. Did it every week for about six years.
ABO: Do you miss those days, PM?
BEN ENGLISH: Welcome back to Wagga.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be here.
BEN ENGLISH: Mate, you're one of the OGs. You've gone to every Bush Summit. You must love it. There's not many votes here for you. Why do you do it?
When it comes to talking about Building Regional Australia’s Future, it’s hard to find a more fitting place than Wagga Wagga.
It has a history of ambition and bold vision. In the lead-up to Federation, the people of Wagga put their city forward to be the capital of our new nation.
It remains a place of energy and ambition, a city that plays a key role in the security of our nation – from the paddocks to the barracks.
A city infused with the spirit with which we must look ahead, knowing that while success is never guaranteed, we have what we need to achieve it.
RAFAEL EPSTEIN, HOST: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, they're a little bit like a nation within a nation. They've got their own army, police force, navy even I think. They don't actually really respond to the most of the government in Iran.
SARAH FERGUSON, HOST: Prime Minister, thank you for joining us.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good evening, Sarah.
FERGUSON: Starting with this incident in Victoria, can I first get your reaction to the deaths of two Victoria police officers who were killed at a rural property trying to execute a warrant?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Firstly, can I say that there are reports from Victoria, from Porepunkah about an active incident that has been underway there. There is grave concern for some of the police officers who are involved. Our thoughts are with the police for the work that they do, each and every day. The men and women who wear our uniform, and wear the uniform of the police force take risks each and every day. And the Victorian Police Commissioner will be providing updates during the afternoon as more facts that are able to be released become clear.
Since the terrible events of October 7, 2023 we have witnessed a number of appalling antisemitic attacks against Australia’s Jewish community.
The Albanese Government asked ASIO and the Australian Federal Police to investigate these incidents as a priority because they have no place in Australia.
Enough credible intelligence has now been gathered to reach the deeply disturbing conclusion that the Iranian Government has directed at least two of these attacks.
Iran has sought to disguise its involvement but ASIO assesses it was behind the attacks on:
ALICIA PAYNE, MEMBER FOR CANBERRA: Good morning, everyone. I'm Alicia Payne, the Member for Canberra, and it's wonderful to be here in Lawson this morning with the Prime Minister and Housing Minister, Clare O'Neil.
SALLY SARA, HOST: Politicians have returned to Canberra for the resumption of Federal Parliament this week. It comes as the Government announces initiatives it hopes will fast track the building of new homes. The Prime Minister joins me now. Anthony Albanese, welcome back to Radio National Breakfast.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Sally.
SARA: On housing, today you've announced the expansion of the First Home Guarantee will be brought forward by three months. How much of a difference will it make?