I’ve always been an optimist about Australia’s future - and communities like Gladstone give new cause for optimism every day.

All of us are living in a time of profound, global economic change.

Australia has had to deal with the shocks – and aftershocks – of a once-in-a-century pandemic, followed by the most significant international energy crisis in 50 years.

And alongside this, there is a global economic transformation underway.

Nations around the world are re-investing in their economic sovereignty, modernising their industrial base and embracing clean energy.

HAMMO, HOST: Well, he is in town today and he's here to make a big announcement in regards to minerals, funding helping deliver future made here in Australia and around the Gladstone region. It's the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. Morning, Prime Minister.

JEREMY JONES, HOST: Prime Minister, thanks for your time this morning.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be with you and I'm very much looking forward to be back in Central Queensland this morning.

JONES: And Prime Minister, can you run us through what is being announced today and what does it mean for Central Queensland?

The Albanese Government will support a further two major critical minerals projects in Queensland and South Australia, helping deliver the building blocks for a future made in Australia while creating hundreds of jobs and opportunities.

The Government will provide $400 million in new loans to Australian company Alpha HPA to deliver Australia’s first high-purity alumina processing facility in Queensland.

The Alpha HPA project in Gladstone is expected to create around 490 jobs during construction and more than 200 jobs on completion.

The terrible events of the past few days have brought devastation and grief to Sydney and Australia.

They have also shone a light on the bravery and compassion of our people.

All of us have mourned for those lives suddenly stolen in the despicable attack at Bondi Junction.

By now, we've seen the faces of the victims and read their stories.

A refugee on his first day in a new job in their new home. A young mum desperately seeking to protect her beautiful baby.

People out shopping, in a manner so familiar to so many of us.

CHRIS O’KEEFE, HOST: The Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, is on the line for us. Prime Minister, thanks for your time.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good afternoon. Good to be with you, although these are, of course, really difficult circumstances and they're tough times for Sydneysiders and for Australians.

O’KEEFE: I think the designation of a terrorist attack surprised many of us.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I'm joined by the AFP Commissioner, Kershaw and the Director General of ASIO here this morning. Last night a 16 year old who has been apprehended was accused of stabbing a bishop at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley. This is a disturbing incident. There is no place for violence in our community. There is no place for violent extremism. We are a peace loving nation. This is a time to unite, not divide as a community and as a country.

RAF EPSTEIN, HOST: Anthony Albanese joins us on the radio. He is, of course, the Prime Minister of Australia. Good morning.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, Raf. Good to be with you.

EPSTEIN: Can you tell us what you were told about Sydney last night?

AMANDA KELLER, HOST: Good morning, Prime Minister.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good to be with you, but it's been a tough few days in Sydney.

BRENDAN JONES, HOST: It’s been terrible.

KELLER: Absolutely it has. What are you feeling?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Today flags are flying at half-mast around Parliament House and around the nation as Australians come to terms with the shocking events on Saturday. This is a difficult time for our nation and for Australians. And yesterday afternoon, I travelled back to Bondi Junction, to lay a wreath on behalf of the nation together with the Premier, Chris Minns, the local Federal Member, Allegra Spender, State Members, and the Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos. This is a community in mourning, but it's a nation in mourning.