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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia joined a Coalition of the Willing virtual meeting hosted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom, along with President Zelenskyy and leaders from Europe, Canada and New Zealand.

Prime Minister Albanese reiterated Australia’s strong and steadfast support for Ukraine and restated that Australia will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Leaders agreed to continue working on delivering concrete actions to support Ukraine now and into the future.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

Australia stands with Ukraine and we will continue to do so for as long as it takes. It is the right thing to do and it is in Australia’s national interest. Because what happens in the Euro-Atlantic has serious implications for our region – the Indo-Pacific – and vice versa.

This is a struggle not just for the people of Ukraine and their national sovereignty. This is a struggle for the international rule of law.

President Putin’s regime has imperialist designs, for Ukraine and beyond.

We must ensure Russia’s illegal and immoral actions are not rewarded through any peace process.

Australia supports all meaningful progress towards a just and enduring peace in Ukraine and for broader security in Europe. But pressure will need to be applied on Russia to engage in good faith.

Australia is always open to considering any new proposals to support Ukraine – which we do so based on our capacity and comparative strengths.

Australia has committed $1.5 billion to help Ukraine defend itself, including $1.3 billion in military support and through vital equipment and training of Ukrainian forces.

Australia is open to considering any requests to contribute to a future peacekeeping effort in support of the just and lasting peace we all want for Ukraine. 

We have a proud tradition of supporting peace through 80 years of contributions to international peacekeeping missions. Of course, peacekeeping missions by definition require a precondition of peace.

The Albanese and Allan Labor Governments are fixing roads across Victoria, improving safety and better connecting Melbourne’s suburbs, Victoria’s regions, and surrounds.

The Australian and Victorian Governments will deliver two new road projects in a big win for the south-east:

• Nepean Highway and Overton Road Intersection Upgrade ($50 million)
• McLeod Road and Mornington Peninsula Freeway Intersection Upgrade ($25 million)

The Nepean Highway and Overton Road Intersection Upgrade will enhance road safety for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists by installing traffic signals and improving footpath connectivity to the existing Kananook Creek Trail.

The McLeod Road and Mornington Peninsula Freeway Intersection Upgrade will deliver improvements to this intersection, supporting journeys between the south-east suburbs and the coast.

These will be transformative projects for Melbourne’s south-east, improving the lives of residents from Carrum to Frankston and beyond.  

The projects are part of the Albanese Labor Government’s $1 billion Road Blitz, matching the existing near-billion dollar road blitz campaign by the Allan Labor Government, who have since added an additional $200 million.

This money is ready, right now, to fix roads in need of critical upgrades.

This follows funding already allocated to three projects under the Road Blitz, including:

• Sealing and upgrading 5.6km of Old Sydney Road from the Mitchell/Hume boundary, Mickleham, to Camerons Lane, Beveridge.
• Completing the duplication of Evans Road, Cranbourne, between Duff Street and Central Parkway.
• Delivering further works at the intersection of McLeod Road and Station Street, Carrum, including adjustments to improve signalisation and traffic flow.

Delivery timeframes for the projects will be determined in consultation with the Victorian Government.

Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese:

“My Government is building Australia’s future – and that means building Victoria’s future too. We want to make sure all Victorians have the services and the infrastructure they need now and into the future.

“We will continue to partner with the Victorian Government to deliver critical road upgrades to provide immediate congestion relief now.

“This is good for local jobs, good for local businesses and good for commuters.”

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan:

“Every Victorian wants to spend less time stuck in traffic and more time with family – that’s why we’re delivering major road upgrades across Melbourne’s south-east and faster and safer journeys for decades to come.”

“As we build more homes, we are making sure our fastest growing communities have the transport infrastructure they deserve now and into the future.”

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

“We’re fixing roads right across Victoria; from Ararat to Gippsland to Melbourne, we’re giving Victorians the infrastructure they deserve after being short-changed by the former Coalition government. 

“These will be transformative projects for Melbourne’s south-east, better connecting these growing suburbs with the city and the region.

“The Road Blitz will fund projects to improve network efficiency, travel times and road safety in key areas of Melbourne and its surrounds, to match the Victorian Government’s Road Blitz which is largely focused on the regions.

Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams:

“After ten years of neglect from the federal Liberal National Party, it’s fantastic to have a partner in Canberra that can find Victoria on a map and deliver critical investments to keep our state moving.”

“Our growing communities deserve the very best road connections, which is why we are investing more to improve traffic flow and boost safety.”

Member for Dunkley Jodie Belyea:

“As a local who travels frequently across our community, I know this investment will make a major difference for pedestrians and road users.

“These upgrades will enhance safety for pedestrians and road users in our local community.

“These upgrades will make our local roads safer and get people moving faster.

“This money is ready right now, to deliver two major road upgrades in our community.

“Only the Albanese Labor Government is continuing to invest in roads and infrastructure in our local community, building Australia’s future.”

The Australian Government condemns the recent horrific violence in Syria’s coastal region.

We are deeply concerned by UN reports that many civilians from the Alawite community were summarily executed and understand the community’s distress. Our thoughts are with them at this time.

Australia condemns the murder of innocent civilians. All minorities must be protected, including those from the Alawite, Christian, Druze and Kurdish communities. 

The Government has urged all parties to protect civilians, exercise restraint and prioritise dialogue.

We are closely monitoring the words and actions of Syria’s interim authorities, including their pledge to hold accountable all those involved in the bloodshed.

The persistent conflict, oppression and displacement that Syria’s population has long endured must end.

Australia calls on Syria’s interim authorities to lead an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political transition process that fully respects the rights of all minorities and establishes a representative, non-sectarian government.

We will continue to engage with the UN and our international partners to encourage lasting political change and inclusive governance to deliver long-overdue peace and stability for the Syrian people.

Fourteen iconic events from Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras to the TCS Sydney Marathon and Tamworth’s Country Music Festival, will benefit from less red tape in recognition of their importance to our state’s identity.

The Minns Labor Government is introducing a new events framework, and announcing the first round of Foundation Events, to secure our calendar of events, including the Sydney Festival, the Parkes Elvis Festival, Vivid Sydney and the Bathurst 1000.

Events are a significant contributor to the NSW visitor economy. In 2023-24, events supported by the Destination NSW alone delivered $1 billion in visitor expenditure for the state. In classifying these events as foundation, we not only protect them but also ensure their ongoing contribution to the NSW visitor economy, support for local businesses and role as jobs creators.

The new framework complements the NSW Government’s focus on experience tourism to keep visitors coming back to enjoy our iconic events time and again.

The event framework recognises that foundation events contribute not just economically but to the cultural fabric and tradition of the state. For example, the NRL Grand Final should be assessed and supported differently to a travelling Premier League match due to its significance over many decades to NSW. 

Beyond generating economic value through direct event visitation, the framework will assess the social contribution and community benefits, as well as social and cultural legacy of events.

The event framework gives event organisers certainty, which allows them to innovate with programming, drives culture, connects communities and generates economic growth.

Foundation Events will be assessed differently, and provided additional support –

• Prioritised for a minimum 3-year Strategic Investment Agreement with Destination NSW (or 3 events for bi-annual events) with renewals negotiated one year prior to the last event. This gives events greater certainty and room to plan.
• A more favourable regulatory environment will support events to maximise benefits for the community.
• An event assessment approach which provides greater consideration of strategic, economic, marketing and brand, social and cultural benefits.

Events included in the first round of Foundation Events

• Bathurst 1000
• Biennale of Sydney
• Bluesfest
• Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash
• Deni Ute Muster
• NRL Men’s & Women’s Grand Final
• Parkes Elvis Festival
• Sydney Festival
• Sydney Fringe Festival
• Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
• SXSW Sydney
• Tamworth Country Music Festival
• TCS Sydney Marathon
• Vivid Sydney

This list will be reviewed periodically, and more events will be announced in the future.

Minister for Arts, Tourism, Music and the Night-Time Economy, John Graham said:

“We are building the calendar and investing for growth. These events light up the calendar, they have become part of who we are, and it’s time we give them the recognition and certainty they deserve.

“The NSW calendar has an incredible line up of events, special times in our annual calendar that allow us to come together for iconic moments. The foundation events framework gives these festivals certainty so they can keep producing these important experiences for us all to share.

“What these incredibly fun and unique events speak to, is government supporting local communities to play to their strengths and then tell their local story to the world. Locals know what works in their patch. We support them to do it!

“The foundation events framework gives events certainty, which drives culture, connects communities and generates economic growth.”

Background

• The three new event categories
  • Foundation Events: Regular, recurring events that may grow in size and significance over time. These events are often essential to NSW’s identity and visitor economy.
  • Major Events: Large-scale events that bring in significant visitor economy and economic benefits. They could happen once or several times and have a major impact on an area.
  • Local Events: These events are typically smaller in scale and contribute to a local visitor economy and the community.
• The stage process:
  • Step 1: Classify the event
  • Step 2: Assess the event based on criteria
  • Step 3: Make a recommendation and prioritise

The Albanese Labor Government is building Australia’s future, today announcing $750 million to boost development of new technologies to ensure our metals manufacturers remain globally competitive.

Australia is already prized for its alumina, aluminium, iron and steel, and this funding will value add to our high quality Australian metals exports worth over $150 billion annually.

Part of the $1.7 billion Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund announced at Budget 2024/25, this new $750 million of funding will supercharge cutting-edge innovation and boost development of new low emissions technologies.

The Fund will support the development of cutting-edge new technologies, as well as funding pilot and demonstration projects, that can lower emissions, improve productivity and revitalise plant and equipment.

It will have the potential to unlock commercial-scale production of green metals using Australian ores and renewable resources, opening the door to more trade opportunities, more jobs, more value-adding and lower emissions.

Funding will be administered independently through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

Building on the Albanese Labor Government’s significant support for manufacturing, this latest investment is part of more than $5 billion now allocated to supercharge Australian metals industry.

Together these initiatives demonstrate the Albanese Labor Government’s clear determination for sovereign metals manufacturing to remain in Australia’s future.

• Green Aluminium Production Credits
• Green Iron Investment Fund
• Joint package with SA Government to give steelmaking in Whyalla a strong future
• Funding for clean energy technology manufacturing – accelerating the deployment of emerging battery technologies, wind turbine manufacturing and hydrogen electrolysers
• Funding for low carbon liquid fuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel.
• Passing legislation to deliver Production Tax Credits for hydrogen and critical minerals, which was opposed by the Liberals and Nationals
• Investment in major critical minerals and rare earths projects through the Critical Minerals Facility including Iluka and Arafura
• Investing in Geoscience Australia to accelerate the discovery of resources
• Funding Hydrogen Headstart to catalyse Australia’s hydrogen and clean energy industries
• Investing in green metals through the Powering the Regions Fund

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:

“We want to see more Australian workers make more things here.

“That’s why we are allocating funding to back our local metals manufacturers to seize the opportunities of the future.

“We’ve got the resources, the workers, and the know-how – the only thing we don’t have is time to waste.”

Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic:

“Jobs up and emissions down, that’s our goal and investing in our world-class Australian made metals know-how is helping make that happen.

“The work of our scientists and researchers can sharpen our competitive edge, but getting that work into our mills and smelters quickly is a challenge, and that’s where this investment comes in.

“Demand for green metals is expected to account for a third of the global metals market in coming years, this is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss.

“For a century, metal-making has been the spine of Australian industry, and this investment is there so it continues to underpin our economic and national security resilience for decades to come.”

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen:

“The Albanese Labor Government is backing businesses across the country to seize the opportunities of a Future Made in Australia, powered by low-emissions tech including reliable renewables.

“While we are getting on with the job and delivering solutions for hard-to-abate sectors to decarbonise right now, Peter Dutton’s Coalition is championing a $600 billion dollar nuclear scheme that relies on a smaller economy and Australian industry being forced to shut down.

“Helping some of Australia’s largest industrial emitters, like alumina refining, capture the benefits of a global clean energy economy, cut fuel bills and remain competitive is at the centre of a Future Made in Australia.”