This week, as students and teachers here in Queensland and around the country count down to the holidays, and families look forward to Christmas we also look back on the year that’s been and the challenges that we’ve faced.

I want every Australian to know that I understand things have been hard.

I want every Australian to know that when times are tough, we’ve got your back.

Our Government is working every day to make next year easier for you and your family.

To put the worst of global inflation behind us - and to put the last of the Liberals’ mess behind us too.

PATRICIA KARVELAS, HOST: This morning, Australia is waking up to yet another act of antisemitic hate, this time in the Sydney suburb of Woollahra. It comes a little more than a day after the Prime Minister unveiled a new taskforce to tackle antisemitic crimes in the wake of last week's arson attack on a synagogue in Melbourne. The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, is my guest this morning. Prime Minister, welcome.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Patricia.

KARVELAS: What's happening in Australia?

The firebombing of the Adass Israel Synagogue was a vile act of cruelty against a tight-knit community.

It was crime of cowardice and prejudice.

Above all it was an act of terrorism.

I join with other Australians my total and unequivocal condemnation of this crime and everything it represents.

This was a fire fuelled by antisemitism and stoked by hatred.

It was a grotesque violation of a place of solace and sanctuary.

It has added to the Jewish Australian community’s already profound pain and sorrow.

JOSH BURNS, MEMBER FOR MACNAMARA: Right here, at Adass Israel, we saw a terror attack in the heart of our Jewish community. We've just been inside with the Prime Minister and the congregation, and I just want to say how amazed I am with the bravery and the stoicism and the proud Yiddishkeit that's being displayed by the Adass Israel congregation, showing the strength and the resilience to come together and support one another. And I want to thank them for their kindness and the warmth and the optimism that they have brought today.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much. I'm joined by the Attorney-General, the Minister for Home Affairs, but also the AFP Commissioner and ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess. Today, we have had a meeting of the National Security Committee along with other meetings that we normally have on a Monday. As confirmed by authorities an hour and a half ago, the Melbourne attack will be investigated as a terrorist incident. Our world-class agencies will provide all the support necessary to find the perpetrators and ensure they face the full force of the law.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Well, it is my great pleasure to welcome President Adeang back to Canberra. As I said during the President's last visit here, our countries share a special bond. We share geography, we share history, we share a region. And of course, we share deep and strong bonds between our people.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President of Nauru, His Excellency David Waiau Ranibok Adeang MP, today signed the Nauru-Australia Treaty in Canberra.  

The Nauru-Australia Treaty builds on the deep foundations of Australia and Nauru’s bilateral relationship, and will help secure Nauru’s long-term economic resilience and security.

Today we are pleased to announce that our two nations have elevated our long-standing relationship to an integrated economic, social and security partnership by signing the Nauru–Australia Treaty.

The attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue was an atrocious act.

Antisemitism has no place in Australia and we unequivocally condemn it.

Today the Albanese Government committed $32.5 million to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) to further enhance security at Jewish community sites including synagogues and schools.

This significant funding increase comes in addition to the $25 million grant to the ECAJ announced in October 2023, and funding for Jewish community sites under the Albanese Government’s $50 million Securing Faith-Based Places grant program.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's wonderful to be back here in Perth and here with the Premier, with Minister Rita Saffioti and with my Minister Catherine King, as well as the local MP here, Patrick Gorman. Rita Saffioti and I did a press conference way back in 2013 about this railway line in my capacity as the then Infrastructure Minister. So, this has been a long time coming, but this is such a significant project.