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.

I am proud to lead a government committed to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

And I look forward to talking more today about how we can deliver on that commitment in 2023.

It’s great to be part of this important Chifley Research Centre Conference.

And I acknowledge all my colleagues who are here today participating.

VOICEOVER: He's the 31st Prime Minister that won't stay in one spot for too long. And one thing we do know he always packs with him, a bag of Chicken Twisties, it's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: What a great intro.

KYMBA CAHILL, HOST: Welcome.

PRIME MINISTER: Good to be here. Great to be back in Perth.

Can I say thank you, for the third time I've been able to meet with this working group, and thank you for the extraordinary work that you are doing.

Importantly, thank you for your patience with the process.

I'm very hopeful and optimistic about an outcome later this year.

The Government is determined to hold a referendum in accordance with the wishes arising from the Uluru Statement from the Heart. And in spite of some of the misinformation, I congratulate you on your advocacy around the country.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It's very good, today we reaffirmed the support of all governments from all states and territories for constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, including through a constitutionally enshrined Voice to the Parliament.

National Cabinet met in Canberra today to discuss key national priorities, including energy and the health system.

Today all First Ministers, in recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the First Peoples of Australia, reaffirmed a commitment to working collaboratively to support a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament by signing a Statement of Intent.

I am pleased to announce that the Governor-General has accepted my recommendation to appoint Mr Tony Cook PSM as the Secretary of the Department of Education.

Mr Cook is currently Deputy Secretary, Higher Education, Research and International at the Department of Education. He has held a range of senior public servant positions at the Commonwealth and State levels, including as Director‑General of the Queensland Department of Education and Deputy Secretary at the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Can I thank the premiers and chief ministers for what was, once again, a very collegiate and collaborative meeting, where we worked together as a Commonwealth, with states and territories, and today as well, we added local government in the national interest.

ANNE ALY, MINISTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION: Good morning, everyone. And welcome to the electorate of Cowan and the suburb of Morley. It's wonderful to welcome back the Prime Minister on his second trip to Western Australia as part of his commitment to visit Western Australia ten times a year - an honorary Western Australian, if I might say so. And also to welcome the Federal Health Minister Mark Butler, and of course, the State Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson, who is also the Member for Morley, here to visit what could be a potential Urgent Care Clinic site.

JO TRILLING, HOST: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in Perth today announcing seven Urgent Care Clinics that will open across WA to ease pressure on our emergency departments. Good afternoon, Prime Minister.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be with you. It's great to be back in Western Australia.

The Albanese Government has reached a major milestone – six months ahead of schedule – with more than 35,000 Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) workers now in Australia.

In the October 2022 Budget, the Government committed to reaching 35,000 workers by June 2023. Latest data shows the milestone was reached in December.