ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It is wonderful to be back here in Tasmania today, my first visit after the election held less than one month ago. And I do want to thank Tasmanians for the support that we received. But it is a critical day for Tasmania, it’s one in which people will remember that they got the opportunity to walk across this magnificent piece of infrastructure.
The Albanese and Rockliff Governments are proud to mark a historic milestone for Tasmania, with the official opening of the new Bridgewater Bridge – the largest transport infrastructure project in the state’s history.
The $786 million project represents a significant investment in Tasmania’s future, delivering modern infrastructure that improves connectivity, enhances freight and passenger movement, and supports economic growth across the state.
KIP WIGHTMAN, HOST: It's Robin and Kip now with Corey Oates, and we have Prime Minister Albanese, Albo, in the studio with us. Good morning, mate.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be with you. This is the venue for the turning point in the federal election campaign.
WIGHTMAN: Glad you recognise that.
PRIME MINISTER: That was where momentum shifted when the three Pooches. Three-nil.
WIGHTMAN: Yeah. They all predicted a Labor landslide victory and they were dead right.
HOST: What about the timing from this man. He’s done it again.
HOST: I’m not coming in until they play Rihanna he said, and play Rihanna we did.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Exactly.
HOST: You did this last time. It's a rockstar entry.
PRIME MINISTER: What a cracking song.
HOST: Yeah, it's a good song, isn't it?
LORETTA RYAN, HOST: Well, you are a mighty Queenslander, Billy Moore. Billy Moore, we've just had the Prime Minister walk into the studio and I'm sure –
BILLY MOORE, FORMER NRL PLAYER: Ah –
RYAN: Yes, he is a Blues supporter. And he was at the stadium last night, Prime Minister.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I was, and I've got to tell you Billy, that the ABC presenters here are both wearing blue.
RENEE COFFEY, MEMBER FOR GRIFFITH: Welcome to beautiful Brisbane on the south side in the seat of Griffith. It’s lovely to have you all here. It is my absolute pleasure to welcome the Prime Minister here to Queensland on what is a great day for Queenslanders, and what will hopefully be a fantastic evening for Queenslanders as well. So without further ado, it’s my absolute pleasure to introduce the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese.
CLAIRE PONTIN, MID COAST COUNCIL MAYOR: Hi everybody, I'm Claire Pontin, Mayor of Mid Coast. I want to thank the Prime Minister and these wonderful people behind me, the Ministers, and I'll introduce them shortly, for taking the time to come to the Mid Coast to actually see firsthand the devastation that people in this area have been suffering. It is totally overwhelming for everybody, and we're just so thankful that we're getting the help that we need to turn this around and actually get moving in a strong way for recovery.
The Albanese Government is expanding financial assistance for communities in the New South Wales Hunter and Mid North Coast regions impacted by the devastating floods – activating the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) and extending the Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA).
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the first meeting of the new Cabinet of this Parliament. We had a full Ministry meeting after the inauguration there at Government House and this Cabinet has a big job to do. Last Friday, I was there on the upper Hunter, looking and talking with some of the heroes. Our SES volunteers, people from marine rescue, other places, helping their fellow Australians.
JOE BUFFONE, NEMA DEPUTY COORDINATOR-GENERAL: Good morning all. My name's Joe Buffone. I'm one of the Deputy Coordinator-Generals here at NEMA. We've just briefed the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Emergency Management on the current situation. Pretty much, the focus at the moment is now currently on a severe cold front that's coming through South Australia, through Victoria, impacting on eastern and southern New South Wales. The main focus there is about wind, and the concern is about many trees going down.