PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: Cabinet will meet today as the fallout deepens from revelations that the former Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, had himself sworn into multiple portfolios during the pandemic. It's been confirmed that Scott Morrison secretly held the Health, Finance and Resources portfolios, overruling then Minister Keith Pitt to knock back a controversial gas exploration licence last year. The news has taken many of his colleagues, including former senior Cabinet ministers, even the new Opposition Leader by surprise.

VIRGINIA TRIOLI, HOST: So, is there another shoe to drop? Are there more portfolios and ministries to be revealed that Scott Morrison secretly had himself sworn into while Prime Minister? Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, joins you this morning on the show. Prime Minister, thanks for making yourself available to us again. Good morning.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Virginia.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: There have been revelations of an extraordinary and unprecedented trashing of our democracy by the former Morrison Government. This has been Government by deception. Government in secret. The appointment of not a Shadow ministry by the Leader of the Opposition but a shadow Government by the Prime Minister. I used to say that Scott Morrison had two jobs as Prime Minister and he botched them both. It turns out I was wrong about there being just two job.

JOHN LAWS, HOST: It's been a busy few months for the new Prime Minister, having to deal with a cost of living problem, energy issues, a deteriorating relationship with China that bothers me a bit. Anthony Albanese was thrown into the deep end. But that's what he wanted, really. And I think he and his ministers have done a hell of a good job under the circumstances, which would have been tough.

HOST: We are a little bit excited because we have our Prime Minister on the phone.

HOSTS: (in unison) Mr. Albanese, Mr. Anthony Albanese. Mr. Albanese Mr. Anthony Albanese.

HOST: Good morning.

PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE: That is a very impressive welcome. Have you been practising that?

HOST: No, not at all.

HOST: Mark is a lot younger than us, Mr. Albanese, and he knows some songs.

The Commonwealth and New South Wales governments will extend the Back Home grant to renters, landlords and homeowners impacted by the June-July flood event, with a total of $47 million available to get people home sooner.

The grants will be available across the 17 local government areas (LGAs) deemed to be the most severely flood impacted: Blacktown, Camden, Canterbury-Bankstown, Central Coast, Cessnock, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Liverpool, Maitland, Mid Coast, Penrith, Port Stephens, Singleton, Sutherland, The Hills and Wollongong.

Today, National Cabinet met virtually to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, Monkeypox (MPX), Foot and Mouth Disease and the upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit.  

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly provided an update on the current COVID-19 situation, including the uptake of vaccine booster doses and COVID-19 treatments.

The Commonwealth, State and Territory leaders discussed the continuing impact of COVID-19 on health system capacity and that they would work together to plan and prepare for likely future waves of COVID-19.

The Albanese Government’s Climate Change Bill 2022 has passed the House of Representatives today.

The Bill will enshrine into law an emissions reduction target of 43 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050.

It has brought together business, industry, unions, farmers, community and conservation groups, all of whom have asked the Parliament to put Australia on the path to net-zero emissions.

PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE: This morning the national cabinet met virtually and was attended by all Premiers and Chief Ministers to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss monkey pox as well as to receive briefings about Foot and Mouth Disease. Professor Paul Kelly is with me this this afternoon with the Chief Medical Officer provided an update on the current COVID-19 situation, including the uptake of the vaccine booster doses and antiviral treatments.

I am pleased to announce I have recommended the Governor-General appoint Ms Meghan Quinn PSM as the new Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

Ms Quinn has had a distinguished career in both the public and private sector.

In the public sector, Ms Quinn has been focussed on the Commonwealth Treasury portfolio, undertaking a number of senior roles, including as Deputy Secretary of the Markets Group, and the Macroeconomic Group. She was also central to the preparation of the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper in 2012.