The Albanese Government welcomes the final report from the Bell Inquiry, handed down today by the Hon Justice Virginia Bell AC.

The Inquiry examined the appointment of former Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, to administer multiple departments without disclosure to his colleagues or the public.

The unprecedented and inexcusable actions of the former Prime Minister were emblematic of the culture of secrecy in which the previous Government operated.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Yesterday our government was able to pass its National Anti-Corruption Commission legislation through the House of Representatives. It was an important day for integrity and accountability in politics. And so is today. We're shining sunlight on a shadow government that preferred to operate in darkness, a government that operated in a cult of secrecy and a culture of cover-up, which arrogantly dismissed scrutiny from the parliament and the public as a mere inconvenience. A government whose motto was ‘nothing to see here’.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I would like to start by congratulating my friend Daniel Andrews on an extraordinary result in Victoria. Winning a third term with an absolute majority is an extraordinary achievement. Daniel Andrews has led Victoria through difficult times, in particular the pandemic.

VIRGINIA TRIOLI, HOST: Good morning, Prime Minister.

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

TRIOLI: Were you chipping a Labor win of this magnitude here in Victoria?

The Albanese Government is acting to make workplaces safe from sexual harassment with the passage of the Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Legislation (Respect@Work) Bill through Parliament.

Sexual harassment is not inevitable – it is preventable.

This historic Respect@Work legislation significantly progresses gender equality by ensuring women are able to earn a living in safe, sexual harassment-free workplaces.

The legislation closely follows the recommendations of Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, left unfinished by the former government.

Thank you so much. I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet. I pay my respects to their elders, past, present and emerging. And on behalf of the government that I'm proud to lead, I recommit to the implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full, including a constitutionally enshrined Voice to this Parliament.

ANNA HENDERSON, HOST: Prime Minister, thanks for joining SBS World News. 
 
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be with you from Bangkok.
 
HENDERSON: Now, you've had worldly meetings back to back throughout this week, with people at home watching on, what's going to change in their lives as a result of these engagements?
 

I’m so pleased to be back home in Australia and delighted to be with all of you this morning, here in the great city of Melbourne.

Not far from this room, just across the road from the mighty Victorian Trades Hall, stands a humble monument honouring the 8 hours movement.

In 1856, stonemasons working on the new Melbourne University downed tools and marched alongside fellow construction workers to the steps of Victorian Parliament to demand an 8 hour working day.

A struggle that would see them become one of the first workforces in the world to win this right.

Small businesses and not-for-profit organisations affected by ongoing flooding in New South Wales can now apply for recovery grants of up to $50,000, as part of the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

The NSW Government has identified a significant number of businesses impacted by multiple flooding events since August, who are likely to face extensive clean-up and repair work.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, I have been with the Premier, Dominic Perrottet, today, and the local MPs and local council representatives here in Eugowra, a town that has been devastated. A town where two lives were lost and one in three of this town, some 159 people, were rescued, either by a chopper or by boat, a town that's been devastated and we've seen that today. But it's a town that's resilient. It's a town where people want to rebuild this town and this community.