ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Today, I can confirm that at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, Australia will recognise the State of Palestine. Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own, predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority. We will work with the international community to make this right a reality.
Australia will recognise the State of Palestine at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, to contribute to international momentum towards a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza and release of the hostages.
Since 1947, Australia has supported Israel’s existence. In that year, Australia’s Foreign Minister Evatt chaired the UN committee that recommended the creation of two states side by side.
Then, as now, the international community understood a two-state solution was the basis of peace and security for the peoples of the region.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: When Australians think of New Zealand, we think of the Anzacs and we think of the sacrifice that we've made together in defence of our freedom. Australia and New Zealand are great friends. We think alike and we act alike on the international stage.
CHRISTOPHER LUXON, PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND: Kia ora. Good afternoon, everybody. As you know, the Prime Minister and I have just concluded our formal leaders' meeting. We’ll take questions in a moment but before we do say, I want to make a few brief remarks, and then I'll pass to Prime Minister Albanese to do likewise. Let me open by just reiterating what an absolute pleasure it is to welcome you to Queenstown, Anthony.
CHRISTOPHER LUXON, PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND: Ngā mihi nui, kia koutou, we welcome you again, Prime Minister Albanese, and to all the delegation that's with us as well. We just are so grateful that you've come. Thank you for spending this time with us. And welcome to Queenstown, which is, of course, a place that a lot of Australians come to get a true winter experience in, and a lot of New Zealanders leave to go get a true sandy beach experience in Australia to get away from the winter. But look, we just want to say, thank you so much. It's great that you're here.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to New Zealand from 9 to 10 August to join Prime Minister the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon at the annual Australia–New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting.
Australia and New Zealand share a deep and enduring bond as friends, neighbours and allies. Australia has no closer partner, and both countries are committed to strongly backing Pacific-led solutions to the region’s challenges.
DANIEL MULINO, ASSISTANT TREASURER AND MEMBER FOR FRASER: Good morning, my name’s Daniel Mulino, and I’m the Member for Fraser, which includes Sunshine, where we are here this morning. It’s wonderful to be here this morning with the Prime Minister, with the Minister for Health, and also with Alice Jordan-Baird, who is the Member for Gorton, the electorate which neighbours this one. We’re here at an Urgent Care Clinic, one of the Government’s most important policies coming out of the last election.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon. I am pleased to announce my Government will recommend to the Administrator of the Commonwealth that Ms Krissy Barrett be appointed the ninth Australian Federal Police Commissioner. Before going further, I do want to firstly thank Reece Kershaw for his decades of service and commitment to protecting Australians and Australia's national interest, including six years as AFP Commissioner.
The Government will recommend to the Administrator of the Commonwealth that Ms Krissy Barrett APM be appointed the ninth Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner.
This will be a historic appointment for the AFP, with Ms Barrett becoming the first woman to hold the position of Commissioner.