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

It is a great honour to be with you all for the launch of an outstanding new addition to Australian political biography and indeed Australian history.

Among many distinguished guests, can I acknowledge all the members of the Whitlam family joining us here today.

Including Tony Whitlam, who I learned from this book was very nearly blessed with the name ‘Justinian Dovey Whitlam’ to achieve what Gough called a ‘crescendo effect’.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks for joining us. And for the travelling media as well, thanks for making the effort of coming here to the United States for what has been my seventh visit to the United States as Prime Minister, my third since the federal election in May, and it has been a very significant visit.

NATALIE BARR, HOST: The Prime Minister joins us from the White House, good morning to you.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Nat.

BARR: Tell us, what was going through your mind when the President turned to you and said, does he still work for you?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, yesterday was an important meeting. We had an $8.5 billion dollar deal. We confirmed AUKUS and my focus was on what a successful meeting it was.

SARAH ABO, HOST: Between a new critical minerals deal, assurances over AUKUS, and a presidential trip down under in the pipeline, it's safe to say Anthony Albanese came out of his first formal meeting with Donald Trump pretty unscathed.

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: And the Prime Minister joins us now live from Washington, DC to discuss. And who's a happy camper, PM?

JAMES GLENDAY, HOST: The Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joins us live now as he wraps up his official visit. Prime Minister, welcome back to the program.

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

GLENDAY: Thank you for your time. Now, lots of analysts have been saying this meeting with Donald Trump is a nine or a ten out of ten. How would you characterise your relationship with the US President now?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President of the United States Donald J. Trump today signed a landmark bilateral framework on critical minerals and rare earths at the White House in Washington DC. This will see an accelerated pipeline of priority projects delivered by and for the two nations.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to the United States from 19 to 21 October for an official visit hosted by President Donald J. Trump in Washington DC.

Australia and the United States are the strongest of allies and closest of friends. Our unique relationship is underpinned by a shared vision for peace and security, close economic connections and deep personal ties between our two nations.

For the fourth year in a row, the Albanese Government is backing Western Australia’s most iconic fundraising event – committing $6 million to the Channel 7 Telethon Trust to help build a brighter, healthier future for children and babies across the state.

Funds raised through Telethon go directly towards medical research, essential health services, and life-changing programs that support sick, disadvantaged and vulnerable children and their families.

I am pleased to announce that the Governor-General has agreed to the appointment of Ms Kathy Klugman as the next Director-General of National Intelligence, the head of the Office of National Intelligence.

Ms Klugman will take up her appointment when the current Director-General, Mr Andrew Shearer completes his term of appointment.

Ms Klugman is the first woman to lead the Office of National Intelligence or its predecessor the Office of National Assessments.

The Prime Minister will be on leave for seven days from Saturday 11 October 2025.

During this time, the Deputy Prime Minister will be Acting Prime Minister.