INTRODUCTION

I’d like to begin with a message for all of our Japanese friends here with us.

We’re all still in shock about the tragic death of your former prime minister, Abe Shinzo.

But for you, the shock must be all the greater.

His death is a profound loss for Japan – but also for the world.

He led a life of consequence and changed things for the better – in Japan, in our region and around the world.

I hope you can take some comfort from knowing that Australia stands with you in your time of grief.

ANDREA CROTHERS, HOST: Prime Minister, thanks for joining me.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be on the program.

CROTHERS: Back home, straight into a flood disaster. You were on the ground in Sydney yesterday and confronted by a frustrated resident. How did that feel?

NATALIE BARR, HOST: The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, joins us now. The Prime Minister, good morning. Breaking news overnight, with Boris Johnson's resignation. You met up with him just last week at the NATO Summit. What's your reaction to this news?

CHARLES CROUCHER, HOST: Well Boris Johnson, Ukraine, floods and a G20 showdown with Russia and China are all on the horizon. It's been a baptism of fire for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

SARAH ABO, HOST: And we are pleased to say he's found some time in his busy schedule to join us here on Today. Prime Minister, good morning to you.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning.

SARAH ABO: Boris is out and it has been tumultuous. We're not going to see him gone, though, for another month. Is this good or bad news for Australia?

The Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Anthony Albanese, and the Prime Minister of Aotearoa New Zealand, Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, joined by Ministerial colleagues from both countries, met in Sydney on 8 July 2022 for the annual Australia New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting.

The Prime Ministers’ discussion reflected the richness of trans-Tasman cooperation; their shared perspectives and goals on regional and global issues; and a joint desire to see our world-leading cooperation grow from strength to strength.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Thank you very much for joining us. We have had a very successful discussion this morning following a week in which there's been meetings, not just of our respective ministers, but, importantly as well, meetings between the business community of Australia and New Zealand. There are no closer friends than Australia and New Zealand. And today's discussions reflected that and also reflected the reset in relations between Australia and New Zealand.

The tragic death of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is devastating news.  On behalf of the Australian Government and people, we offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to Mrs Abe and to Mr Abe’s family and friends, and to the people of Japan.  

Mr Abe was one of Australia’s closest friends on the world stage.  It was his vision that helped elevate our bilateral relationship to a Special Strategic Partnership in 2014.  Under his leadership Japan emerged as one of Australia’s most like-minded partners in Asia – a legacy that endures today.  

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Kyiv yesterday, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and expressed Australia’s support for the brave people of Ukraine and the incredible defence of their homeland.

During the visit Prime Minister Albanese saw first-hand some of the devastation caused by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Following President Zelenskyy’s request for further support, Australia will provide the following new package of assistance to Ukraine:

New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, will visit Sydney from 6 to 8 July to attend the Australia New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting (ANZLM).

The ANZLM is an annual meeting. Discussions are expected to cover a range of topics including economic links, regional security, Indigenous cooperation, migration settings, economic recovery and climate change.

This visit follows Prime Minister Ardern’s June visit to Australia, and will also include a meeting of the Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF).

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It is good to be back in Australia after a very successful visit to the NATO Summit, to repair our relations with France, but also a critical visit to Ukraine on the invitation of President Zelenskyy, to recommit Australian support to the people of Ukraine in the struggle they are having against a brutal Russian invasion, that has implications for the rules-based international order, but also of course having an impact on Australians with rising energy prices, rising inflation, impact on supply chains, including on food.