Australia’s top veteran and partner employers, employees and entrepreneurs were celebrated last night at the 2022 Prime Minister’s National Veterans’ Employment Awards in Canberra.

These Awards showcase the talent on offer in the veteran community – as employees and entrepreneurs, and also recognise the organisations that actively recruit, employ and support veterans and families.

The Awards highlight the importance this Government places upon supporting veterans to ensure a successful transition out of the military and into civilian life.

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet. I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging.

These awards have been running for a few years, but it's the first time I've had the honour to present them as your Prime Minister.

And I am delighted to celebrate with you this evening.

Our veterans have so very much to offer.

But I am always struck when I hear that our veterans aren't confident that civilian employers recognise that.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined counterparts from across the Asia-Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting from 17-19 November. 

During the Economic Leaders’ Meeting, the Prime Minister joined others to condemn Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the resulting economic impacts on our region. 

Today Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines in the margins of the 29th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. 

Prime Minister Albanese and President Marcos agreed to strengthen the already warm and deep ties between the two countries by formally elevating the relationship to a Strategic Partnership. The Prime Minister has asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs to take forward negotiations with the Philippines on this important step forward.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Can I say thank you for engaging in this bilateral meeting and thank you for the informal engagement that we’ve had over now many, many days, going back to the East Asia Summit. It seems like it was a long time ago but it was only last week. Australia and the Philippines have such close relations. We have good economic ties, we have good people-to-people relations. I attended an APEC transport ministers’ meeting many years ago in Manila when I was Transport Minister in the Rudd Government more than a decade ago, about 2010.

MARK RILEY, HOST: Prime Minister, thanks for speaking with Weekend Sunrise.

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

RILEY: Are we taking it slowly on China?

PRIME MINISTER: I think it's necessary to go in positive steps, but the important thing is what direction you go in. And what occurred with the meeting with President Xi and also the informal discussions with Premier Li was steps forward in the right direction, in both Australia and China's interests.

ANDREW CLENNELL, HOST: Prime Minister, thanks for joining us.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Greetings to Australia from Thailand.

CLENNELL: So I just saw some footage of President Xi come up to you, shake your hand, have a few words towards the end of that APEC summit. What did he have to say?

PRIME MINISTER: We just exchanged pleasantries at the end of the meeting and said it was good to have the dialogue that we had this week. 

CHARLES CROUCHER, HOST: Prime Minister, six days, three summits, three countries, a significant period for you, for the country, particularly when it comes to China, can you give everyone an idea of where the relationship stands right now?

MATTHEW DORAN, HOST: Prime Minister, thanks for speaking to the ABC.

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

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, Mr President, it is great to see you. And we have much to talk about – about the roadmap of greater cooperation, defence and security, climate change and energy, and, of course, culture as well. We've had a fantastic discussion, of course, in Paris. I look forward to welcoming you to Australia to return the hospitality.