Applications open to deliver historic pay rise for early childhood workers

From today, early learning providers can apply for Commonwealth Government funding to deliver early childhood education and care workers a historic 15 per cent pay rise.

To be eligible to receive the Albanese Government’s funding for the wage increase, early childhood education and care services must agree not to increase their fees by more than 4.4 per cent between 8 August 2024 and 7 August 2025.

This is good for early childhood educators and good for families.

October 7 attacks

On the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks, we pause to reflect on the horrific terrorist atrocity that reverberated around the globe.

October 7 is a day that carries terrible pain. Over 1,200 innocent Israelis died: the largest loss of Jewish life on any single day since the Holocaust.

We unequivocally condemn Hamas’ actions on that day.

Innocent lives taken at a music festival. Women, men and children killed in their homes. Brutality that was inflicted with cold calculation.

Funding for major restoration works at Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Redfern

The Albanese Government will provide up to $25 million towards major restoration works at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan site at Cleveland Street, Redfern.

This investment will benefit and serve the whole community by:

  • Helping restore the historical Cathedral of the Annunciation of Our Lady;
  • Upgrading the St Andrew’s Theological College;
  • And helping to build a new Great Hall, Library and Museum.

Australia is home to a significant Greek Orthodox community, with a population of over 400,000 people across the nation.

Official welcoming doxology for His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

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

I’m delighted to join you in officially welcoming His All-Holiness to Australia.

This is a historic occasion — and a great honour for our nation.

His All-Holiness’s last visit to Australia 28 years ago is remembered by Australia’s Greek Orthodox community with great warmth and appreciation.

It was the first-ever visit by an Ecumenical Patriarch to Australia.

Doorstop interview - Sydney

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, look it's fantastic to be back here in Cabramatta and for what is an exciting day. This is day one of returning this seat to the Labor Party and to having Tu Le as a representative for this fantastic community in my Labor Government. Tu Le will be a very strong voice for this local community. She lives here in Mount Pritchard. She is someone who is the daughter of Vietnamese refugees. I've met her parents and her family, and they have lived in this community for a long period of time.

Radio interview - B105 Brisbane Breakfast

MATT ACTON, HOST: Albo is on the air. Good morning, Prime Minister.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning. I thought I was gonna miss out on my intro song.

ACTON: Never.

COLEMAN: Never. We’re consistent. And plus, we haven't updated it, so it'll always be there.

ACTON: You can't beat perfection, can you, Albo?

PRIME MINISTER: Exactly. Oh, we could beat it if you guys sang the song yourself.

ACTON: Ah, well, Stav does sing.

Radio interview - SEN Sydney Breakfast with Vossy and Brandy

HOST: As we said it right at the top of the program today, we know there's some very serious events in the world on the news front but today, we have the Prime Minister of Australia on in the context of rugby league and we hope you appreciate that. There is the PM's XIII game coming up October 13. Brad Fittler, is he having input into it? Well, let us find out from the man himself. Busy schedule, but he's been good enough to join us on Breakfast with Vossy and Brandy again this morning. Prime Minister, welcome. How are you?

Cracking down on shrinkflation to help Australians save time and money

The Albanese Government is taking action to fight shrinkflation in our supermarkets and retail sector by strengthening the Unit Pricing Code to make it easier for Australians to make accurate and timely price comparisons.

The Government will also introduce substantial penalties for supermarkets who do the wrong thing and breach the Unit Pricing Code.

The practice of 'shrinkflation' is becoming increasingly common, where the size of a product is reduced, but the price at the supermarket is the same or even increases, taking advantage of Australians doing their groceries.

Doorstop interview - Melbourne

BILL SHORTEN, MINISTER FOR THE NDIS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES: Well, welcome to the electorate of Maribyrnong, the heart of it, Moonee Ponds. It's my great pleasure to welcome our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and Labor's next Member for Maribyrnong, we hope, Jo Briskey. We've been here at a fantastic Goodstart Learning Centre, talking to the workforce about Labor's great policies to make sure that our early childhood educators get long overdue recognition, which indeed is one of Ms. Briskey's many achievements.

Visit to Australia by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Australia in October 2024.

This year marks 100 years since the establishment of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.

His All-Holiness will spend two weeks in Australia, meeting with Greek Australian and diaspora communities, Orthodox parishioners, political and interfaith leaders, and community groups.

Prime Minister Albanese will host His All-Holiness as a Guest of Government on 5 and 13 October.