Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President of Nauru, His Excellency David Waiau Ranibok Adeang MP, today signed the Nauru-Australia Treaty in Canberra.  

The Nauru-Australia Treaty builds on the deep foundations of Australia and Nauru’s bilateral relationship, and will help secure Nauru’s long-term economic resilience and security.

Today we are pleased to announce that our two nations have elevated our long-standing relationship to an integrated economic, social and security partnership by signing the Nauru–Australia Treaty.

The attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue was an atrocious act.

Antisemitism has no place in Australia and we unequivocally condemn it.

Today the Albanese Government committed $32.5 million to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) to further enhance security at Jewish community sites including synagogues and schools.

This significant funding increase comes in addition to the $25 million grant to the ECAJ announced in October 2023, and funding for Jewish community sites under the Albanese Government’s $50 million Securing Faith-Based Places grant program.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's wonderful to be back here in Perth and here with the Premier, with Minister Rita Saffioti and with my Minister Catherine King, as well as the local MP here, Patrick Gorman. Rita Saffioti and I did a press conference way back in 2013 about this railway line in my capacity as the then Infrastructure Minister. So, this has been a long time coming, but this is such a significant project.

People in Perth’s north east are finally connected to affordable, world-class public transport, with the METRONET Ellenbrook Line officially opening today – marking the biggest expansion of Perth’s rail network in more than 16 years.

Delivered by the WA Labor Government with funding support from the Federal Albanese Labor Government, the new line will connect tens of thousands of people in Perth’s growing north-eastern suburbs to the rail network for the first time.

TRACEY ROBERTS, MEMBER FOR PEARCE: Good morning, everybody. I’ve got the biggest smile on my face, and it’s a great to welcome the Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Anthony Albanese, to Pearce, and the Honourable Minister Madeleine King, the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia. So, it’s just fantastic to be here and so exciting. I would like to invite Ministers to talk about the projects, welcome to the Pearce electorate, and I’ll hand over right now. So, welcome, everybody and thank you for being here.

The Albanese Labor Government is delivering vital support to Australia’s critical minerals sector by providing up to $475 million in additional finance to develop the Eneabba Rare Earths Refinery project in Western Australia.

This project is Australia’s first integrated rare earths refinery and will support 900 jobs at its peak during construction, and an additional 250 secure, well-paid jobs once operational.

RAF EPSTEIN, HOST: The synagogue fire in Ripponlea is clearly suspicious. The Jewish community are on edge. It comes at a time, of course, of really heightened debate. The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, is in Perth. He is about to leave for Perth. Good morning, Prime Minister.

TOM CONNELL, HOST: Well, plenty of politicians are putting their feet up at this time of year. Not my next panel. A current - and I guess he's a former but he'll always be the Member for Mackellar, for some people, I suppose, - joining me, the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman and former Liberal MP Jason Falinski. Gentlemen, thanks both for your time. I know Jason, you would have been watching the RBA very closely. You'll get your go at this, don't worry.

I am pleased to announce the Governor-General has accepted my recommendation to appoint Mr Michael Lye as Secretary of the Department of Social Services.

Mr Lye has had an extensive career in the Australian Public Service and has a proven track record of implementing complex reforms, particularly in the area of social policy.

He has served as Deputy Secretary, Ageing and Aged Care, at the Department of Health and Aged Care since 2019, and has previously held senior positions at the Department of Social Services from 2013 to 2019.