Today is a momentous day for Catholics around the world and faithful in Australia, and I join them in congratulating their Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, Bishop of Rome, on his election overnight.

As the first North American Pope, Pope Leo XIV’s leadership comes at an important time for the Catholic Church and the world.

Australia will invite His Holiness Pope Leo to Australia for the International Eucharistic Congress being proudly hosted in 2028.

My government looks forward to continuing Australia’s strong relationship with the Holy See under Pope Leo XIV's pontificate.

KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Prime Minister, thanks very much for your time. Congratulations.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much, Kieran.

GILBERT: I remember when you had the tough times in Labor, the Rudd-Gillard turmoil. You at times were emotional at the difficulties facing your Party. How does it feel today as we sit here in this place and you've got upwards of 90 seats or thereabouts and you've unified your Party?

SARAH FERGUSON, HOST: Prime Minister, welcome to 7.30

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good evening, Sarah. Good to be back with you.

FERGUSON: Are you now, even four days later, still stunned at the magnitude of your victory?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Ready to go?

JOURNALIST: Born ready.

My fellow Australians.

Serving as your Prime Minister is the greatest honour of my life.

And it is with a deep sense of humility, and a profound sense of responsibility that the first thing I do tonight is say thank you to the people of Australia, for the chance to continue to serve the best nation on earth.

I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and I pay respects to elders past, present and emerging today and everyday.

Today, the Australian people have voted for Australian values.

Today, as the Last Post cuts the silence of dawn, we pause to honour and reflect on more than a century of Defence service and sacrifice.

110 years ago today, Australian and New Zealand troops landed on the beaches of Gallipoli under heavy fire, in the battle that would begin the Anzac legend.

Little did they know, their story would shape both our nations for generations to come.

Today we honour them, and all those who have served in our Defence Force in the years since. We pay tribute to the fallen, lost in service of our nation.

JOURNALIST: Who from the Cabinet will be representing the Government at the Pope’s funeral, and have arrangements be made for somebody from the opposition to follow?

Australian Catholics and faithful around the world give thanks for the life of their Holy Father, Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome.

Today, the prayers of more than a billion people – from all nations and every walk of life – go with Pope Francis to his rest.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina in 1936, and ordained a priest in 1969, Pope Francis’ fellow cardinals elected him Pope in 2013.

His was a papacy of firsts – the first pope to hail from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope, and the first to take the name of the great champion of the poor, St Francis of Assisi.

The Australian Government is activating further financial support for flood-impacted communities across western Queensland through the Disaster Recovery Allowance.

This allowance offers up to 13 weeks of income support for eligible workers and sole traders depending on their personal circumstances who have suffered a loss of income as a direct result of the event.

It will be available in 15 LGAs of: Barcaldine, Barcoo, Blackall-Tambo, Boulia, Bulloo, Central Highlands, Diamantina, Flinders, Longreach, Maranoa, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie, Richmond and Winton.

• $80 million in recovery grants for small businesses, primary producers, not-for-profits, and rural landholders affected by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
• Grants of up to $25,000 are available to fund clean-up and immediate recovery needs for return to operation.
• Activated across 16 local government areas from Bundaberg to Gold Coast and west to Toowoomba.

The Australian and Queensland Governments are activating grants totalling more than $80 million to eligible small businesses, primary producers, not-for-profits, and rural landholders to support communities impac