Today National Cabinet signed a Heads of Agreement for a new National Access to Justice Partnership that will provide a critical increase of nearly $800 million in funding over five years from 2025-26 to the legal assistance sector, with a focus on uplifting legal services responding to gender-based violence.

The Commonwealth Government will invest a total of $3.9 billion in support for frontline legal assistance services to be delivered through a new partnership agreement with the states and territories.

National Cabinet met in Canberra today to agree practical next steps to accelerate action to end gender-based violence in a generation and deliver on the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.

First Ministers agreed that ending the national crisis of gender-based violence, including violence against children and young people, will remain an ongoing priority for National Cabinet. First Ministers acknowledged that a coordinated approach across all states and territories is required to address this national crisis.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well thanks everyone, and thanks for coming to Canberra, except for Andrew, who lives here, everyone  for making the effort. And welcome to Lia, to your first National Cabinet meeting. We know that ending gender-based violence is a priority for the Commonwealth and for every single jurisdiction. There are too many stories, tragically, almost no week goes past without there being a tragedy, which is something that then flows on to intergenerational issues as well.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks for joining us. My friend Bill Shorten has decided that he will not be contesting the next election. It's a big decision for him, for Chloe and their family, who are joining us here today. Chloe and Clementine, welcome. And Bill and I have had a number of conversations over this, about this, over a period of time. I think it's a credit to Bill that this news will come as a surprise.

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, and I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

It is such a privilege to be here with you today.

The arrival of Street Side Medics in Melbourne represents a fresh chapter in a great Australian story – a story that begins with a great Australian and former Young Australian of the Year, Dr Daniel Nour.

I know Dr Nour is keen to emphasise what a team effort it’s been. To quote him:

TANIA LAWRENCE, MEMBER FOR HASLUCK: Good morning, everyone. My name is Tania Lawrence. I'm the Federal Member for Hasluck. I welcome you to Darlington. This is the lands of the Noongar Whadjuk people, and it's an incredibly beautiful part of the seat of Hasluck. But for the upcoming election, the boundaries will change. So for many of the communities that I represent, particularly the Perth Hills and the Foothills, it will now become the federal seat of Bullwinkel.

HOST: Welcome Prime Minister.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Wonderful to be back in this great state.

HOST: Yes, and I'm so I'm proud of you Xav, you haven't asked him whether he came on a Budget rent-a-bus or anything. That was the last time. Did you arrive in a Thrifty Prime Minister?

HOST: No, we're just on the same level. We're just chit chatting away. We've already stumbled into a bit of Hawthorn chat straight away.

PATRICK GORMAN, MEMBER FOR PERTH: As the local Member for Perth, it is wonderful to be joined by the Prime Minister, the Premier, the State and Federal ministers for Education for a very exciting announcement, not just for the 2,060 students here at Mount Lawley High School, but for students across Western Australia. My parents were both school teachers. I know the power of a good education. And I know that schools like Mount Lawley Senior High School give Australian students the best start in life.

ROBBIE VON, HOST: Our special guest is in the studio right now. 23rd time to WA is, of course, the Prime Minister. Albo, how are you?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Fantastic. Great to be here.

CARLY PORTCH, HOST: And you were in Collie the other day –

PRIME MINISTER: I was in Collie on Sunday.

PORTCH: Yes, now tell us about that. Because I understand it was, what, the first time in 40 years the PM has been to Collie.

HOST: Good morning, Albo.

HOST: Hi, Albo.

HOST: You're back again. You brought the Cabinet with you.

PRIME MINISTER: Wonderful to be. I brought all my friends. Yeah, we're here en masse. I've been here since Sunday.

HOST: Is everybody else is happy to be dragged over here?

PRIME MINISTER: Absolutely. We had a full Ministry meeting yesterday. And yesterday morning, were down at HMAS Stirling and I got to go on a nuclear-powered sub, a Virginia Class.