ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, thanks very much. Today is a momentous day. It's a day that confirms the change of government when the new Parliament sits for the first time. I said on election night, on May 21, that Australians voted for change and indeed they did. And we have a mandate to implement that change. A mandate to deal with the challenge of climate change, by taking up the opportunities that are there. A mandate to have 10 days paid domestic and family violence leave. To create Jobs and Skills Australia, to address cost of living challenges that are out there, but having cheaper child care and through other measures as well. I want to see a Parliament that functions much better than the last one. One where there's genuine debate and dialogue and discussion. I want more unity, less division. I want to bring the country together with a sense of our common purpose which is there. We have big challenges as a nation going forward. There are challenges with our economy, there are challenges with inequality in our society, but there's also international challenges as well, in defence and our national security. Challenges that have been highlighted by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but challenges as well that are in the Indo-Pacific region.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, are you able to end the climate wars without legislating the emissions reduction target?
PRIME MINISTER: Indeed, we have already submitted our position of our nationally determined contribution to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. We've already submitted that. We're able to do that, of 43 per cent by 2030. That's a position that we announced last December that we campaigned on very transparently, with fully costed policies that will create 604,000 new jobs, that will see 82 per cent of our energy market in the national energy market come from renewables. We'll create new industries and new opportunities. We have a mandate for it. We intend to pursue it. I say to both the Coalition but also to the crossbenchers, that Australians, and indeed the business community in particular, wants this Parliament to move on from the old days of division. We had 22 energy policies announced by the former Government and none of them implemented. We have one policy. We'll implement it.
JOURNALIST: Given we're outside a church today, what is your message to religious communities? What will you do for them in this term?
PRIME MINISTER: That I respect people of faith. That all people, regardless of their faith, should be respected. That's something I have always done. And something that my Government will do as well. We will address the issues of religious discrimination and the need to legislate there. We'll do that during the term of Parliament. We'll do it in a way which is much more consultative and brings people together in a way that I hope characterises the way my Government functions.
JOURNALIST: The Coalition has said that it's worried that the 43 per cent target will place a tax on all Australians as future governments acquiesce to those demands. What is your response to those comments?
PRIME MINISTER: They need to basically mature a bit. Really? They had 22 policies. They didn't land one of them. To argue there's no mechanism that can be described in that way, we are indeed using the safeguard mechanism has been established under the Abbott Government.
JOURNALIST: Just on the Greens’ demands, how are the negotiations going? And are you willing to accommodate any of the changes that they are requesting?
PRIME MINISTER: We have our mandate. It's for 43 per cent by 2030. We said of course the nature of these targets are that it's a floor, not a ceiling. But we actually need to have a plan to get change. You can't just come up with a figure or come up with a sort of thought bubble. Our policy is well thought through. It was announced, it was campaigned upon, indeed, it received a mandate. And I lead a Government with a majority in the House of Representatives. And I say to all those who are thinking of voting against this legislation, that's a matter for them. We'll get on and implement the policy which we don't need to legislate for. But they should have a look back at the last 10 years where there's been a lost decade. And they should think about the fact that our policy is being supported by the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Australian Industry Group, on the business side. All of the business peak organisations. That should be something the coalition think about. But on the other side, the Australian Conservation Foundation, Greenpeace, and mainstream people in the environmental movement are also saying vote for this bill.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, Scott Morrison's not here this week. Do you think it's disrespectful he's ditching Parliament for a speaking tour?
PRIME MINISTER: It's a matter for him.
JOURNALIST: This is a big day for you. What or who were you thinking about in church this morning?
PRIME MINISTER: I was thinking about my mum. It would've been a big day for her. At the War Memorial last night, I had an amazing moment where, as I was driving back, or being driven back, to be honest, to the Lodge, I got a text message from a very dear friend of mine, with photos from the event at the War Memorial. And eight people of my friends who I grew up with, in council housing, in Camperdown, have made their way here from Melbourne, from Perth, from all over the country, without telling me, they have organised it. And that was a really emotional moment for me last night. It's a big deal for them. I said on election night that I hoped there were people watching in public housing who aspire. It confirms that in this great country of ours you can aspire to a better life and to fulfil the opportunities that this country creates. And last night, and the fact that they'll be there today, is a big deal for me and a great moment. Thanks very much.