The Albanese Government is delivering on a commitment to build the skills and capabilities to take advantage of Australia’s transition to a clean energy future with a $10 million investment at the University of Wollongong.
The funds will establish an Energy Futures Skills Centre located at the university, with a second investment of $2.5 million to upgrade equipment and teaching aids, creating a Renewable Energy Training facility at the Wollongong TAFE.
CHRISTIAN MCEWAN, HOST: We have a very special guest, as big as it gets in fact, not in stature, he's not the biggest guy in the world, but.
MARTY HAYNES, HOST: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be in Wollongong today, he's visiting the University of Wollongong's Smart Infrastructure Facility at 10:30 today, he'll be here, but he's joining us here at i98 this morning. Prime Minister, welcome.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, great to be with you.
PRIME MINISTER, ANTHONY ALBANESE: It's fantastic to be here at Kalgoorlie School of the Air. This amazing facility has been teaching our youngest Australians here in the Goldfields and throughout this vast region since 1962. And what is happening here is a major upgrade from the National Broadband Network. As part of the 4,800 homes and businesses that will be upgraded with Fibre National Broadband Network here in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, it will make an enormous difference. It will make a difference to people who live here.
PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: I'm Patrick Gorman, the Federal Member for Perth. And it is wonderful to have not just the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, here in Perth, but also have the Minister Brendan O'Connor, and Minister Simone McGurk. And can I say a huge thank you to Michelle Hoad, the Managing Director of North Metro TAFE, for having us here today.
IVO DA SILVA, HOST: Good morning, Prime Minister and welcome to Kalgoorlie-Boulder and thank you for bringing a bit of rain to us from Sydney because that's something that we desperately needed.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: The Mayor just gave me credit.
CONNOR MALLIS, HOST: I guess, the real big question is what brings you to the Goldfields?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Welcome to the first ever Federal Cabinet meeting in the Pilbara. It's a commitment that I made during the election campaign along with other commitments I've made here in Western Australia. And my Government is determined to deliver each and everyone of them. I said I'd visit the West 10 times a year. This is my 9th visit in nine months, so I have three month to go to make that one extra visit. I'll be back here, by the way, in March and April. So, we'll exceed that target.
This year our focus as a government is on providing stability, confidence and security.
Greater security in the economy.
In energy and industry and jobs and wages.
Greater security in Medicare and child care and aged care.
In education and skills and housing.
In building and delivering the infrastructure and services Australians rely on.
And in defence and national security, investing in our sovereignty, strengthening Australia’s relationships in the region and securing our place in the world.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Welcome to Bayswater. We're here in the seat of Aston that's been neglected by its local member for a long period of time. And I'm here to say no more, because Mary Doyle is going to make a fantastic Member of Parliament representing Aston. Now, no government has won a seat off an opposition in a by-election for 100 years. But Mary Doyle can make history because Mary Doyle has what it takes.
LAUREL EDWARDS, HOST: Here at 4BC we are the home of the Olympics. We're very, very excited about that, for in nine years’ time when it will be held right here in Brisbane. And the big boss, he's put up some money for this and we're very excited, a massive announcement from the Federal Government today. We've got the man himself, our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, good morning.