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.

It’s an honour to join all of you here this evening, as we continue a great Australian sporting tradition.

Ever since 1984 and the LA games, this dinner has brought together champions of Australian Olympic history and leaders from across the business community and civil society to support the extraordinary men and women who will be representing our country on the biggest stage in world sport.

CASSANDRA FERNANDO, MEMBER FOR HOLT: Good morning everyone. And welcome to JD Propagation in the electorate of Holt. And it's great to see our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, right here in the electorate of Holt and in the southeast suburbs. I have lived in the southeast suburbs for over 25 years since I moved to Australia. And I would like to thank Jen and Dan for hosting us here today and showing us around. JD Propagation is located right here in the electorate of Holt. And they employ over 55 people and most of them are local.

JAYNE AZZOPARDI, HOST: Sliding in the polls and facing rising inflation, Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, is on a charm offensive this morning, making sure voters in Melbourne’s southeast know relief is coming.

CLINT STANAWAY, HOST: That's because on July 1, the stage three tax cuts take effect, as well as an increase to the minimum wage and energy bill relief, all aimed at keeping more money in your wallet.

MONIQUE WRIGHT, HOST: Welcome back. Great to have your company. Well, from Monday, July 1, a raft of changes will come into play, affecting millions of Australians struggling with the cost of living challenges. But will it be enough to ease the burden in our households? Well, let's bring in Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, now. Morning to you, PM. We'll chat about where you are a little bit later. First up, though, just want to talk to you about these changes that come into effect on Monday. Do you think this is what you need to turn the polls around?

KIEREN PERKINS, CEO OF AUSTRALIAN SPORTS COMMISSION: Good morning, everybody. My name is Kieren Perkins. I'm the CEO of the Australian Sports Commission. I'd just like to kick off by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, the Ngunnawal people and pay my tributes to their elders past, present and emerging, as well as calling out the incredible contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to sport and society, and the ongoing power that sport has for reconciliation and equality.

The Albanese Labor Government’s Homes for Australia plan is delivering an additional $1 billion across the country to get homes built sooner.

States and territories will today be paid $1 billion collectively through the Priority Works Stream of the Housing Support Program to turbocharge construction of new homes.

This investment adds to the $500 million already under the Housing Support Program to boost housing supply.

The Albanese Government has delivered the largest ever investment in Olympic and Paralympic sports to help our brilliant athletes achieve glory on world stages.

A record $283 million in new money will flow to our elite athletes, coaches and support staff over the next two years in a historic show of support on the path to Brisbane 2032.

This investment represents a 50 per cent increase on the previous Government’s 2021- 2022 high performance funding.

It also represents a doubling of the investment the previous Government made for Paralympic athletes.

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.

This ‘State of the Nation’ Conference is one of the many ways that CEDA helps drive the big ideas and shape the important debates about our nation’s future.

In the big economic conversations of the past six decades, CEDA has always been a participant and a contributor, not just an observer.

Bringing together a wealth of perspectives and experiences and engaging in broad-ranging research.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Earlier tonight, but you probably knew this, Julian Assange was reunited with his family here in Australia. His arrival home ends a long running legal process. A plea agreement between Mr Assange and the United States Department of Justice was accepted by a US court in Saipan earlier today. I do want to express my appreciation to the United States and the United Kingdom for their efforts in making this possible.

Australian citizen, Mr Julian Assange, has tonight been reunited with his family in Australia.

His return to Australia is possible due to the conclusion of a plea arrangement between Mr Assange and the United States Department of Justice, which was accepted by a United States court in Saipan on Wednesday 26 June.

This ends a long-running judicial process.

The Australian Government has been clear in its view that Mr Assange’s case had dragged on for too long.