ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I'm very proud to be announcing that today we will ensure that the price of medicines is cut even further. I came to office committing to reduce the price of medicines from $42.50 down to $30 that were on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. What we have announced today is that from 2026, that will be reduced further down to just $25. This is cheaper than at any time since 2004. Making a real difference to cost of living, whilst also putting that downward pressure on inflation. And I also have an important message today.

There is no more important priority than keeping Australians safe.

The Government announced an Independent Intelligence Review in September 2023 to ensure our intelligence agencies are best positioned to continue to serve the Australian national interest.

The Independent Intelligence Review, led by Dr Heather Smith PSM and Richard Maude, has found Australia’s hard working National Intelligence Community is highly capable and performing well.

The unclassified report of the 2024 review has been released today.

GRAEME GOODINGS, HOST: Prime Minister, good morning to you. Thanks for joining us today.

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

GRAEME GOODINGS, HOST: You phoned us. Obviously you've got some good news.

DAVID LUTTERAL, HOST: Guess who's just called in? The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, no less.

NIKKI OSBORNE, HOST: I've never heard that one before, I must admit.

LUTTERAL: How cool is this? Good morning PM. How are you?

PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. I am very, very well. I'm on my way to the Gold Coast.

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of land on which we're meeting, and pay my respect to elders past, present and emerging.

And I thank Trent for the introduction and for the invite to be with you here today with my Minister, Mark Butler, the magnificent Minister for Health, who is doing so much, not just in pharmacy, but about strengthening Medicare, strengthening our hospital system, and putting health at the centre of our agenda, not just for this term, but for future terms in government as well.

The Albanese Labor Government is making cheaper medicines even cheaper – with a script to cost Australians no more than $25 under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

This is another key cost of living measure delivered by the Albanese Government which will continue to put downward pressure on inflation.

Having already slashed the cost of medicines – with the largest cut to the cost of medicines in the history of the PBS in 2023 – we’re now going even further.

TOM FORBES, HOST: Now, the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is on the Gold Coast this morning. He's making an announcement at a pharmacy conference in just about 25 minutes time. I spoke with him a short time ago and asked him why he's here on the coast.

RENEE COFFEY, LABOR CANDIDATE FOR GRIFFITH: Good morning everyone. My name is Renee Coffey, I'm Labor's candidate here in Griffith. I want to welcome you all to the Moreton Bay Smart Centre. It's been wonderful to be here with the Prime Minister, thanking our frontline workers who are putting so much work into supporting people in our region. We've had a lot of difficult weeks, these last couple of weeks here locally, and for many people that's continuing as they face the clean-up with debris and damage of their properties.

KARA COOK, LABOR CANDIDATE FOR BONNER: Hello everyone. We're here in Rochedale with the Prime Minister. My name is Kara Cook, I'm Labor’s Candidate for Bonner. Wonderful to have the PM here. And we're talking a lot about, all we want you to need is – this one, your Medicare card – not your credit card when you visit the GP. And thank you to everyone for welcoming us so warmly this morning. And I'll hand over to the Prime Minister to say a few words.

RHIANNYN DOUGLAS, LABOR CANDIDATE FOR LONGMAN: Hi, I'm Rhiannyn Douglas, the Labor candidate for Longman, and it's fantastic to be joined today by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese here at the Morayfield Urgent Care Clinic. Our Urgent Clinic here sees about 100 patients a day and is helping them with urgent care for things like cuts and sprains and infections. I'm so proud that if we're re-elected, we'll open 50 more of these clinics across the country, including one here in Longman in Burpengary. Thank you, Prime Minister.