JACQUELINE MALEY, HOST: Hello and welcome to Inside Politics. I'm Jacqueline Maley. We're bringing you a very special extra episode of the podcast today, because the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had an opening in his diary and he's granted us an audience. So, we're very happy to welcome the Prime Minister to the pod. He's joining us from the Canberra Studio just after question time on Thursday along with our chief political correspondent, Paul Sakkal. Hello, PM.

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

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.

I would also like to acknowledge Her Excellency, the Governor-General.

To be here every year with you remains one of my greatest honours as Prime Minister.

I particularly want to welcome the survivors who grace us with your presence here this morning. Your strength gave us all the chance of a better Australia.

When we look back to that extraordinary day 18 years ago, we are looking back to the fulfilment of a promise.

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

I acknowledge our outstanding Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy.

Together with First Nations Members and Senators, from across our Parliament.

We all join in welcoming members of the Stolen Generations and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders here in the Chamber today.

You enhance this place with your presence.

HOST: But to lead off the hour it's the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese. Prime Minister, good morning to you.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. You can dream of being on that course and actually competing there. So, that's, that's something that you've got.

HOST: It's a bit better than that course in Marrickville in the seat of Grayndler, Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER: There is nothing wrong with Royal Marrickville. It is one of the world's great par-62 courses.

The Albanese Government is continuing to deliver on its Closing the Gap commitments by working with First Nations partners, represented by the Coalition of Peaks, to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The release of the Commonwealth’s 2025 Closing the Gap Annual Report and 2026 Implementation Plan shows the progress made over the past year and outlines our strategy for the year ahead.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Can I welcome you very much, Mr. President, and can I thank you for the comfort and solidarity provided last night, particularly to the families who lost loved ones, the 15 innocent Australians who've lost their lives on December 14. But importantly, as well, you've provided comfort to the Jewish Australian community who are grieving this loss as a result of the antisemitic terrorist attack that occurred on December 14.

ANDY TAYLOR, HOST: We are joined by the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese. Good morning to you.

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

TAYLOR: It's great to have you back on the show, Prime Minister.

KAZ MCMULLEN, HOST: Good morning, Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER: How are you all?

HOST: Right now we say good morning to the Prime Minister. Hello.

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

HOST: Are you watching the Super Bowl today?

RICKI-LEE COULTER, HOST: Where is my Prime Minister?

TIM BLACKWELL, HOST: Where is my Prime Minister? Your Prime Minister's right here. Mr. Anthony Albanese, good morning at 11 to 8.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. How are you coping with getting up a bit early?

COULTER: It's very different. It's very, very different. What time do you usually get up in the morning?

BLACKWELL: This is good.

PRIME MINISTER: Too early, too early.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks for joining us. It is wonderful to be back here in Jakarta for my fifth visit to Indonesia as Prime Minister of Australia. And this relationship is absolutely critical for Australia's national interest, but also a critical relationship in our region. Building stronger ties with our neighbours makes us safer at home, and the treaty that we have signed in Jakarta today takes our defence and security cooperation to a new level.