HOST: Coming home to roost you to. This man demanded to come on after a number of comments you two made before the election. It gives me great pleasure to welcome Australia's newest Prime Minister, the Marrickville Mauler himself, Anthony Albanese.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning.
HOST: Good morning, sir.
HOST: This is an honour to be in your company.
PRIME MINISTER: Gee, I have been elevated.
HOST: Mr Prime Minister.
HOST: Welcome, Prime Minister. And congratulations.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. Thank you very, very much.
HOST: And Prime Minister, we spoke to you a number of times as Opposition Leader. And we did say just before the election, “Don't forget us when you become famous”. And to your complete credit, first week in the job, six days in, and here you are on Triple M Perth. So, thank you. We appreciate it very much.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Firstly, can I thank you for your sincere congratulations on my election as Australia's 31st Prime Minister. It is an honour that this is my first act as Prime Minister, to attend this important Quad Leaders' meeting here in Japan.
And as we gather today, I acknowledge all that the Quad has achieved. Standing together for a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific region. And working together to tackle the biggest challenges of our time, including climate change and the security of our region.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: The Government in Australia has changed, but this was an opportunity to tell our Quad partners—the United States, Japan and India—that the Government’s commitment to the Quad has not changed.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thank you very much Mr President. It's been an honour to start my Prime Ministership, and this new Government, by meeting with yourself and, obviously, with Prime Minister Kishida and Prime Minister Modi.
Today, we—Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, and President Joe Biden of the United States—convene in Tokyo to renew our steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks very much. I was very keen to ensure that Australia was represented here at the Quad to send a message to our partners in the United States, Japan and India, that Australia continues to be strong supporters of the Quad, that the Quad Leaders’ Summit represents our common purpose, our common purpose in supported democracy, in support of peace and security in the region, in the support of the rule of law.
NATALIE BARR, HOST: Anthony Albanese has returned home from his first international trip as Prime Minister. Mr Albanese says he has strengthened Australia's alliance with world leaders after a series of high-level talks with fellow Quad nations.
DAVID KOCH, HOST: The PM's commitment to climate change was a major point of discussion. But it was China's growing influence in the Pacific that took centre stage. Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister, joins us now. PM, welcome back.
MICHAEL ROWLAND, HOST: A regional security showdown is brewing in the Pacific as the new Albanese Government races to counter China's push to significantly expand its strategic influence right on Australia's doorstep. The Foreign Minister Penny Wong is making a diplomatic dash to Fiji this morning. At the same time, her Chinese counterpart is beginning an unprecedented tour to pitch a region-wide security deal that would intensify Beijing's presence in the Pacific.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Thanks very much. This will be a short press conference for reasons that are obvious for those of you who are travelling with us to Tokyo.
I am incredibly honoured and humbled to have been sworn in as Australia's 31st Prime Minister. Australians have voted for change. And my Government intends to implement that change in an orderly way.