REBECCA LEVINGSTON, HOST: Fresh from a Matildas loss last night and hoping for a housing win this morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, good morning.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Good to be here.
LEVINGSTON: Briefly let's talk sport. How was last night?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Can I just welcome friends, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, here to Australia and to say that this AUSMIN meeting comes at a very important time. The relationship between Australia and the United States has never been stronger. It comes at a time of strategic competition in our region. Australia and the United States are working together to promote security, stability and prosperity in our region. I look forward to the discussion today.
Late last night, an Australian Army MRH-90 helicopter impacted waters close to Hamilton Island.
A search and rescue commenced immediately.
Sadly, the four aircrew who were on board are yet to be found.
The families of the four aircrew have been notified of this incident.
Our first thoughts are with the loved ones of the missing.
All Australians hold them in our hearts and we hold onto hope as the search and rescue teams go about their work right now. We have the utmost confidence in their professionalism and skill.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Today every Australian is thinking of the four families of the missing aircrew. Our thoughts are also with those that they serve alongside - friends, brothers and sisters in uniform who even now are aiding in the search effort. I'd also like to thank the support from other nations during this search effort. Our nation offers them all the strength that we can while their work goes on.
Tomorrow we mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, and commemorate the sacrifice of the Australians who served.
Beginning on 25 June 1950, the Korean War saw North Korea (People’s Democratic Republic of Korea) launch an invasion of South Korea (Republic of Korea) in an attempt to unify the country under its communist government.
The Australian Government was one of 21 member countries to send personnel in support of the South in an attempt to unify the country between 1950 and 1953.
CHRIS HIPKINS, PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND: Welcome. It's great to be able to formally welcome you here to the New Zealand Parliament. My office and I were having a debate about how many times we've met in the six months that I've been Prime Minister, by my count it's five. So, two visits to Australia, then the King's Coronation, then NATO, and then it's great to be able to welcome you here. I think the trans-Tasman relationship, as I indicated in the House, is in very good shape.
CHRIS HIPKINS, PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND: Kia ora koutou. Good afternoon. It's a real pleasure to have been able to welcome Prime Minister Albanese to Wellington today for the annual leaders' meeting. This was the third formal bilateral meeting that we've had since I became the Prime Minister of New Zealand at the beginning of the year. Of course, we also had the opportunity to catch up at the King's Coronation and at the NATO summit in Lithuania, where we extended our commitment to Ukraine and reiterated our ongoing opposition to Russia's illegal invasion.
CHRIS HIPKINS, PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND: I've got a little gift bag for you here, Wellington in a bag. Lots of Wellington product innovation for you.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Very good.
PRIME MINISTER HIPKINS: Everything in here is made in Wellington.
PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: You've got coffee.
PRIME MINISTER HIPKINS: Coffee in a can. Peanut butter. Chocolate.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Wellington, New Zealand from 26 – 27 July to meet with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, The Rt Hon Chris Hipkins, for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting.
Australia and New Zealand are close partners and allies. The leaders will discuss strengthening trans-Tasman cooperation in a range of areas including trade and investment, security and defence, our shared commitment to the Pacific region, and deepening connections between our people.