LISA MILLAR, HOST: Good morning to you.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Lisa.
MILLAR: The last couple of days have been pretty amazing, the scenes we have seen. You have announced the public holiday. I've got to tell you, PM, we're getting a bit of feedback into the program from people concerned about that public holiday, concerned about small business, hospitals, doctors, what is your message to them this morning?
PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE: Australians continue to express their grief and gratitude for the life of service from Queen Elizabeth II. This morning, I wanted to update you on some of the arrangements that have been put in place for the return of Parliament that I foreshadowed yesterday. As people are aware, on the 22nd September, the day after I and the Governor-General return to Australia from Her Majesty's funeral, we will host the National Memorial in the Great Hall which will be held at 11am on that day.
BEN FORDHAM, HOST: The Prime Minister is live on the line this morning. PM, good morning to you.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Ben. Good to be with you again.
FORDHAM: I think everyone acknowledges your heart is in the right place in announcing the public holiday, but would you acknowledge that there are a lot of unintended consequences of this?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has invited 10 everyday Australians to travel with him to the United Kingdom for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s State Funeral.
In addition to invitations extended to Australia’s Heads of State, the Palace has invited 10 Australians who have made extraordinary contributions to their communities, and who represent Australian culture and values.
Among invitees are 2022 Australian of the Year recipients and community representatives who embody inclusion and the spirit of helping others.
PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE: Good morning. I want to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay my respect to elders, past, present and emerging. In particular, I wish to acknowledge Uncle Jack Charles who passed away today aged 79. A victim of the Stolen Generation. He was removed from his mum, sent to a mission in Shepparton then Brunswick and Box Hill Boys Homes where he was a victim of abuse his early life.
The passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will bring deep sadness to the people of the United Kingdom, to our fellow Australians and to countless admirers of Her Majesty around the world.
Amidst our grief, the people of Australia offer our gratitude for a remarkable life lived in service of faith and duty.
We recognise this will be a time of profound personal loss for the Royal Family, who are mourning a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
I want to thank all those, particularly those from the diplomatic corps, who came to participate in the commemoration, the laying of the wreaths here this morning. It says something about the way The Queen was admired around the world, not just as our Head of State and Head of the Commonwealth but for her enormous contribution over 70 years as the longest ever Sovereign of the United Kingdom and of the Commonwealth.
DAVID SPEERS, HOST: Anthony Albanese has already had a busy first 100 days as Prime Minister and later this week, he will head to London to attend the Queen’s funeral and meet the new King. He joins me now, Prime Minister, welcome to the program
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks for having me on David.
SPEERS: So, the funeral has been set for Monday 19 September. What about the national memorial service here in Australia. When will that be?
Australia will hold a National Day of Mourning to observe Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday 22 September 2022.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has written to Premiers and Chief Ministers asking they declare this day a National Public Holiday to commemorate Her Majesty’s remarkable life and dedication to service.
HOST: Prime Minister Albanese, you have announced a public holiday to mark The Queen's death. Why was that so important to you?