RICHARD GLOVER, HOST: The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, is here on Drive. Good afternoon, Prime Minister.

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

GLOVER: Can I start asking first about the unemployment figures. They're again very low and I understand that's good news, but it does strengthen the chance of more rate rises ahead. Why do you think the rate rises are failing to slow the economy in the way the Reserve Bank obviously hopes they will?

The Albanese Government is partnering with local government to deliver energy upgrades and bill savings for community facilities like local pools, sporting clubs and community centres, so they can spend more on what they do best.

A new $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund will co-fund upgrades with local councils and has the potential to unlock over $200 million in high-impact energy upgrades to save community facilities on bills over the medium and long term.

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

I'm proud to lead a government that will give all Australians the opportunity to give constitutional recognition to our First Nations People in a referendum that will be held in the last quarter of the year.

It's fantastic to see you all again today. I fulfilled a commitment, there were four people missed out on photos last night, but many now have multiple photos as a result of me getting here early this morning.

The Australian Government has today delivered on an important election commitment for the local government sector, with the Australian Council of Local Government held in Canberra for the first time in a decade.

The forum brought together mayors and council leaders from every corner of Australia to engage with Albanese Government Ministers about the shared vision of these levels of government. Productive discussions across the day highlighted the common goals of the Australian Government and local government leaders.

I am delighted to announce I will meet with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei when he visits Australia as a Guest of Government from 18 to 21 June.

Australia and Brunei Darussalam enjoy a close relationship based on our shared history, strong people-to-people links and mutual interest in taking action on climate change, strategic defence collaboration and food security in the region.

Today the Albanese Government announces a new $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator to deliver thousands of new social homes across Australia.

This investment will build more housing, for more Australians, in more parts of our nation.

Because this Government knows a secure home will give more Australians the foundation for a better future.

MELINDA CILENTO, CEDA: You took us through your productivity agenda, It's obviously the word on everyone's lips at the moment. Two pronged question, if I could. In the room we've got plenty of people who have come across from WA, from the Western Australian government, some great Victorian department representation here. I'm interested in how much of this agenda is going to be dependent on working with the states and how you're going to prosecute that, if I could put it this way.

I am pleased to announce that I will be recommending the Governor-General appoint Mr Blair Comley PSM as Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care.

Mr Comley has had a distinguished career across the Commonwealth and NSW public sector.

Between 2011 and 2013, Mr Comley was Secretary of the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism and the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. He then led the New South Wales Department of Premier and Cabinet as Secretary between 2014 and 2017.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will tomorrow meet Mr Henry Puna, the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, in Canberra.

As the pre-eminent institution of the Pacific family, the Forum plays a critical role in bringing Pacific nations together to address shared challenges and opportunities.

The Prime Minister and Secretary General will discuss Pacific regionalism and Pacific Leaders' priorities as set out in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, including climate change.

The Albanese Government has today announced the Chair and Advisory Board of the Net Zero Economy Agency.

The Hon Greg Combet AM has been appointed as Chair of the Net Zero Economy Agency. As Chair, Mr Combet will guide the Agency to ensure that the workers, industries and communities that have powered Australia for generations, can seize the opportunities of the net zero transformation. The Chair will be supported by an Advisory Board to design and establish the legislated Net Zero Authority.