RUSSELL CLARKE, HOST: We have a special guest back in our city today, The Prime Minister, Mr. Anthony Albanese. And we certainly hope to be having him on the phone. In fact, I think that might be him now. Good morning, Prime Minister.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It sure is, Russell. What a beautiful day here in Perth.
CLARKE: Ah, yes. We put on a show when we have special visitors. Welcome back to WA. I think this is what, the 27th time, I think?
Construction is now underway on the highly anticipated Alkimos Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Perth’s north, delivering key infrastructure for local communities to enjoy now and into the future.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Federal Member for Pearce Tracey Roberts and Mayor of Wanneroo Linda Aitken to officially turn the sod to mark the start of works today.
TANIA LAWRENCE, MEMBER FOR HASLUCK: Welcome everyone. It's a great pleasure to not only have the Premier Roger Cook visit the Midland Urgent Care Clinic, but to have the Prime Minister come and see the success of what has become a fabulous and critical part of the medical ecosystem in Midland and the electorate of Hasluck and well beyond, into the electorate of Bullwinkel as well.
KAREN WHEATLAND, LABOR CANDIDATE FOR DURACK: It is my pleasure to welcome you all today and to stand up here alongside some very special guests. Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, Minister Catherine King, the Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling. Welcome. And also here with my esteemed friend and State Member for the Kimberley, Divina D’Anna. And Tony Chafer, Deputy Shire President.
The Albanese Labor Government is building Australia’s future, today providing First Port of Entry to three critical ports in Western Australia’s north, along with a major package to boost housing and build community infrastructure in the state’s regions.
Applications for expanded border services at Wyndham, Ashburton and Dampier have been given the green light by the Albanese Government, allowing goods subject to biosecurity and other controls to land here and enter Australia.
JACOB GREBER, HOST: Prime Minister, thanks so much for joining us. What an extraordinary setting. We're here in Alpurrurulam, a station, a cattle station at Lake Nash, real cattle country. Big sky country. Like a movie set, I guess. What are you doing here?
PETER HUGHES, OWNER, LAKE NASH STATION: On behalf of my family and Erin and Natalie, managers of Lake Nash, and their staff, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to the Prime Minister, also Minister Catherine King and the Member for Solomon Luke Gosling. We're really chuffed about this. I don't think a Prime Minister's ever visited Lake Nash. It is nearly in the centre of Australia, it’s a wonderful place and a wonderful piece of country.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It's wonderful to be back here in Mount Isa for my second visit here as Prime Minister. I came with Bob Katter to the rodeo here last year and that was a fantastic event to be able to attend as the Prime Minister. And here today, we have important announcements to make about community and housing infrastructure here throughout Queensland, but particularly here in the Kennedy electorate and in Mount Isa, Cloncurry and other parts of what is a vast part of Queensland.
The Albanese Labor Government is building Australia’s future today, announcing over $50 million to boost housing and deliver community infrastructure projects in the electorate of Kennedy.
Over $30 million has been allocated through the Housing Support Program package to boost social housing supply across the region.
This funding will support the delivery of increased social housing supply through the construction of enabling infrastructure and community amenities such as roads, stormwater drainage, earthworks and connection to utilities.
CHARLIE MCKILLOP, HOST: It was no coincidence that Anthony Albanese started his New Year in Regional Queensland in Gympie and now in Cairns. And this time instead of bringing his boardies and thongs, the PM, well, he has been all business. As you've been hearing in our local news, he's announced a multi-million dollar boost to social housing for some of the most remote and disadvantaged Indigenous communities in the country. And also an unprecedented injection to fix the Bruce Highway. Prime Minister Albanese, thank you very much for being with us on ABC Far North.