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.

GEORGE SEYMOUR, MAYOR OF FRASER COAST REGIONAL COUNCIL: I want to thank the Prime Minister for visiting Hervey Bay today. We were severely impacted by those floods - we had flash flooding right across Hervey Bay. There were more than 100 businesses affected, and many more residences. People are recovering. We have the Recovery Centre at the Library and the business recovery now in Main Street. We are working very closely with the Federal Government. We appreciate their support through the ADF, through Services Australia, and other means.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thank you so much, mate. And I want to, it's great to be here, and to have got a briefing this morning about the effort to recover from what was a pretty serious disaster that you had to deal with. I'm joined by Senator Anthony Chisholm here and Trish Mears, who's our candidate here in Hinkler. And I just wanted to drop in, I was talking to Chis last week, he was here, and I wanted to drop in just to show my support for the community.

The Albanese Labor Government unequivocally condemns and stands against antisemitism in all its forms.

The rise of antisemitism is abhorrent and there is no place for the kind of hate speech and attacks we have seen recently in our country.

The firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue was a crime of cowardice and prejudice.

It was an attempt to threaten and silence the Jewish community, in Melbourne and right around Australia.

We won’t stand for that.

We are committed to ensuring that this community rebuilds.

HELEN MADELL, LABOR CANDIDATE FOR FLYNN: Good morning, everyone. And welcome to the Boyne Smelter. It’s a great morning that we have here this morning in town, and it’s great to have all of you with us. My name is Helen Mandell, I’m the Labor Candidate for Flynn. I’m a mother, wife, veteran, small business owner, and Queenslander who has lived here in this region for over 20 years, and I've worked entirely through my time and will continue with the high intention to practice integrity.

The Australian Government condemns the recent horrific violence in Syria’s coastal region.

We are deeply concerned by UN reports that many civilians from the Alawite community were summarily executed and understand the community’s distress. Our thoughts are with them at this time.

Australia condemns the murder of innocent civilians. All minorities must be protected, including those from the Alawite, Christian, Druze and Kurdish communities. 

The Government has urged all parties to protect civilians, exercise restraint and prioritise dialogue.