Australians have clocked up more than two million visits to Labor’s free Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, easing pressure on hospital emergency departments and keeping critical care focused where it is needed most.

New data shows that the average number of visits to Medicare Urgent Care Clinics has risen to almost 26,000 per week nationally, and this number is expected to continue to grow as more clinics open.

Nearly half of all patients who attended a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic would have used a hospital emergency department if no clinic was available.

Australia welcomes President Trump’s announcement that Israel and Hamas have signed off the first phase of the plan to bring peace to Gaza.

After more than two years of conflict, hostages held and a devastating loss of civilian life, this is a much needed step towards peace.

Australia has consistently been part of international calls for a ceasefire, return of the hostages, and the unimpeded flow of aid to Gaza.

We urge all parties to respect the terms of the plan.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Well, thanks for joining us. I'm absolutely delighted to host my friend, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, on his first official visit to Australia as Prime Minister of Singapore. Although this is our first official meeting in Canberra, this is our fourth in-person meeting since May last year. Singapore and Australia are close partners, but we are even closer friends.

1. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, we the Prime Ministers of Australia and Singapore announce today the launch of our enhanced bilateral CSP 2.0. This CSP 2.0 will better prepare our economies and societies for challenges and opportunities now and in the future, and extends our cooperation further to engage effectively with our regional partners.

The 7th of October 2023 was a day of pain and terror for Jewish people around the world, and we must never forget the atrocities that were inflicted by Hamas.

The attack on innocent people at a music festival that promoted ‘friends, love and infinite freedom’ underlined a core truth, that Hamas stands in opposition to all humanity, and all that we value as human beings.

Two years on, we remember all those who were lost on that day, the largest loss of Jewish life on any single day since the Holocaust. Over 1,200 innocent lives ruthlessly taken without mercy.

JAYNE AZZOPARDI, HOST: We are going to get some more on Australia's landmark defence deal with Papua New Guinea.

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: To discuss we’re joined by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, who can make K-Pop. Good morning to you, PM. Nice to see you this morning. Look, you finally got there with PNG.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Morning. Great to be with you.

STEFANOVIC: Are you worried about how China might react?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome the Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, Lawrence Wong, to Australia from 6 to 9 October 2025.

This will be Prime Minister Wong’s first official visit to Australia since taking office, and coincides with 60 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and Singapore.

Australia and Singapore have a deep and longstanding relationship, underpinned by strong economic ties, strategic trust and a close defence partnership.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Good afternoon, on what is a very historic day for Papua New Guinea and for Australia. Last month I had the enormous privilege and the absolute pleasure of representing the people of Australia in Port Moresby at what were quite spectacular celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence. I'm delighted to be able to return that hospitality and welcome my friend, Prime Minister Marape, back to Australia once again. We both enjoyed the football game last night, the NRL Grand Final.

Australia and Papua New Guinea have elevated our relationship to an Alliance, with the signing of the Papua New Guinea – Australia Mutual Defence Treaty.

The Alliance will be Australia’s first in more than 70 years, and Papua New Guinea’s first with any country.

Signed today in Canberra by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Hon James Marape MP, the Treaty reflects a shared commitment to peace and stability in the Pacific.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Fantastic to be in my electorate of Grayndler, here in Annandale with Clare O’Neil, the Housing Minister. And this morning we had the opportunity to meet with Maria. Maria’s a young woman who’s got into her first unit here in Annandale. And she couldn't have done that without taking up the opportunity to have mortgage insurance taken by the Commonwealth Government and paying a smaller deposit. What we are doing as of today is bringing forward our plan for 5 per cent deposits.