Month: March 2026

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

he time has come for high-speed rail in Australia — for the good of Australians and, as the business case now shows, for the good of the economy.

In our first term, we legislated the High Speed Rail Authority to develop that business case. Now that it is complete, we can continue turning that vision into reality. We’re doing that by moving the Sydney to Newcastle stage into the development phase.

This is a big project worthy of a big nation. While the costs are necessarily high, the returns will be even greater.

With speeds of up to 320 km/h, high-speed rail will cut travel time from Newcastle to Sydney to one hour and from Gosford to Sydney to 30 minutes.

That’s what it cuts. Now let’s look at what it adds.

The business case shows that investing in this first leg of the high-speed rail network will generate around $250 billion in economic activity here in Australia. It finds the project will add 99,000 jobs and 160,000 new households to the Hunter region.

It will be a nationally significant act of regional economic development that builds the economic future of the Hunter. Indeed, it is nothing less than an emphatic vote of confidence in the Hunter region.

Consistent with our government’s approach to nation-building, it is a project we are undertaking carefully and methodically.

As a former infrastructure minister, I can tell you that the only thing that moves fast in this process is the train. But we are moving. Eventually so will those trains, stopping only at stations at Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Central Coast and Sydney Central — with future stations at Parramatta and Western Sydney International.

There is no getting around the sheer scale of the project — nor the complexity of the engineering and construction challenges before us. That includes the construction of tunnels for approximately 50-60% of the route, and bridges and viaducts for up to 15%.

Yet, as the business case shows for stages 1A and 1B — Newcastle to Sydney Central — the economic benefits exceed costs, even on conservative assumptions. When assessed together, stages 1A and 1B are net positive. The benefit–cost ratio strengthens further as additional stages are delivered and the network expands.

This is a prime example of nation-building infrastructure that facilitates growth, boosts productivity, creates jobs and connects communities.

It will give businesses opportunities for closer collaboration and integration. It will also provide an incentive for people looking to make their homes outside the big cities, giving them the chance of a better quality of life and strengthening local communities in the process.

It will bring economic benefits to Hunter industries such as tourism and hospitality. And, of course, with travel times slashed, it will be a game changer for workers commuting to Sydney.

As I said when I outlined my vision in Newcastle in 2022, it’s so much more than just a transport policy. It’s an economic development policy. It’s a housing policy. It’s a growth strategy with huge productivity benefits.

Consider the advantages high-speed rail has over air travel and you can see why it has become so crucial in so many parts of the world.

London to Paris is a clear case study. Since the Eurostar opened in 1994, it has captured an overwhelming majority of the market, with nearly four times as many people opting for the train over flying.

It’s also a much more environmentally sustainable way to travel, with carbon dioxide emissions per rail passenger a tiny fraction of what they are by air or by car.

We want to keep Australia moving — and to keep Australia moving faster and more efficiently.

This opinion piece was first published in Capital Brief on Wednesday, 4 March 2026. 

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

PRIME MINISTER: Australia stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against what is an oppressive regime. Ayatollah Khamenei was responsible for the regime’s ballistic missile and nuclear program, support for armed proxies and its brutal acts of violence and intimidation against its own people. This claimed countless lives in Iran, but also internationally. He is responsible for orchestrating attacks on Australian soil. His passing will not be mourned. We have not been immune from the impacts of the regime’s actions right here in Australia. Our valued Iranian Australian community that is 50,000 strong see what happens overseas and, understandably, it affects them greatly as they fear for the safety and security of family and friends. We have also seen at least two attacks orchestrated by the IRGC on Australian soil in 2024, including the firebombing of the Adass synagogue in Melbourne, aimed at creating fear amongst Jewish Australians, but also aimed at dividing our nation.

While we aren’t directly active in the current military strikes, we have been clear and acted on our utter rejection of the brutal Iranian regime. Last year, we expelled Iran’s ambassador. That is the first time an ambassador has been expelled from Australia since the Second World War. And that underlines how seriously we took the gravity of Iran orchestrating an attack on our soil. We suspended operations at our embassy in Tehran, and we listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a state sponsor of terrorism. We’ve sanctioned more than 200 Iranian linked individuals, including more than 100 linked to the IRGC.

We have long recognised that Iran’s nuclear program is a threat to global peace and security. With international partners, including the United States and the G7, we have called for the Iranian regime to uphold the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Iran’s citizens. Sadly, these calls have gone unheeded and action has now been taken. We support the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran from continuing to threaten international peace and security. We are concerned about regional escalation and urge the protection of civilians. For those on the ground, Australian officials are closely monitoring what is an evolving situation. These events are unfolding rapidly. It is critical that anyone in the region takes note of the Smartraveller website for the most up-to-date information that we can provide.

We continue to advise Australians to not travel to Iran – this has been in place since 2020 – and to leave Iran as soon as possible, of course, if it is safe to do so. Our ability to provide consular assistance in Iran is extremely limited. We have upgraded travel advice for Israel, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to Do Not Travel. Australians should leave now if it is safe to do so. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is this morning opening its registration portal for Australians seeking assistance to depart Israel and Iran and will be directly in touch with registered Australians with the latest information. The closure of transport hubs in the Middle East will likely lead to flight disruptions and cancellations. We’ve already seen flights returned to Australia that were unable to land in either Dubai or Abu Dhabi. And of course, Emirates, in particular with Etihad, have a large number of flights to the region, including – of course, as does Qatar and other airlines.

Travellers should prioritise their safety. They should monitor events and follow local advice. Australians requiring urgent consular assistance can contact the Consular Emergency Centre 24/7 on 1300 555 135 in Australia. I repeat the number, 1300 555 135 in Australia, or, +61 2 6261 3305. I repeat that as well from outside of Australia, +61 2 6261 3305. I urge everyone to follow the travel advice and support your friends and family who are directly or indirectly affected by what is happening in the Middle East. I understand this is a very difficult time for the tens of thousands of Australians with loved ones in the Middle East. The days ahead are going to be difficult. They are uncertain. We are deeply concerned and my Government’s priority remains the safety of Australians in the region. My Government will do all we can to keep Australians safe and protect our personnel who are there in the region as well. Happy to take a couple questions.

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Source: Prime Minister of Australia

ustralia stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against oppression.

For decades, the Iranian regime has been a destabilising force, through its ballistic missile and nuclear programs, support for armed proxies, and brutal acts of violence and intimidation.

Iran directed at least two attacks on Australian soil in 2024. These appalling acts targeting Australia’s Jewish community were intended to create fear, divide our society and challenge our sovereignty. In response, Australia took the unprecedented steps of expelling Iran’s Ambassador, suspending operations at our embassy in Tehran, and listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Our Government has sanctioned more than 200 Iranian-linked individuals, including more than 100 linked to the IRGC.

With international partners, including the United States and the G7, we have called for the Iranian regime to uphold the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Iran’s citizens. These calls have gone unheeded. Instead, the regime has instigated a brutal crackdown on its own people leaving thousands of Iranian civilians dead. A regime that relies on the repression and murder of its own people to retain power is without legitimacy.

It has long been recognised that Iran’s nuclear program is a threat to global peace and security. The international community has been clear that the Iranian regime can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. The United Nations Security Council has reimposed sanctions on Iran for failing to comply with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and the International Atomic Energy Agency Board has formally declared Iran in non-compliance with its non-proliferation safeguards obligations.

We support the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran continuing to threaten international peace and security.

Australian officials are closely monitoring this evolving situation. We continue to advise Australians do not travel to Iran and leave Iran as soon as possible, if it is safe to do so. Our ability to provide consular assistance in Iran is extremely limited.

Given our concerns around security in the region, we have also upgraded Australia’s travel advice for Israel and Lebanon to Do Not Travel. Australians should leave now if it is safe to do so.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has activated its Crisis Centre to provide consular support to Australians in the region.

Australians requiring urgent consular assistance can contact the Consular Emergency Centre 24/7 on 1300 555 135 in Australia or +61 2 6261 3305 from outside Australia.

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

strong>KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Prime Minister Albanese, thanks for your time, I know you’ve been meeting with the National Security Committee again. It’s a week into this conflict. Reports that some Australian submariners were on board a US sub that sank an Iranian ship. Can you confirm that for us?

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well we wouldn’t normally confirm such an issue, but given our NSC meetings and the public interest, I can confirm that there were three Australian personnel on board that vessel. I can confirm also, though, that no Australian personnel have participated in any offensive action against Iran. These are long-standing third country arrangements that have been in place for a long period of time, and what they do is ensure that Australian Defence Force personnel, where they’re embedded in third countries’ defence assets, they act in accordance with Australian law, with Australian policy, and that, of course, is taking place across the board.

GILBERT: And in this context, with the three submariners – is that, to give context for our viewers, is that part of the AUKUS training regime, that we have submariners involved with the US, so that when we get our Virginia-class subs, they’re ready to go?

PRIME MINISTER: That’s right. One of the big pluses behind the AUKUS arrangements are Australian personnel getting experience across a range of assets, including being on board nuclear powered submarines, but also the exchange occurring across the board. So it’s not just personnel, it’s engineers, it’s technicians, it’s people learning those skills, whether they be in the United States or the United Kingdom.

GILBERT: When you look at the way that this operation has unfolded, are you comfortable with where things are at, both in terms of international law and the way, for example, that ship was sunk by the US? Do you feel vindicated right now for your early support of the strikes?

PRIME MINISTER: That’s a matter of course for the United States in terms of those legal issues. What I’m certainly comfortable with is that Australia took a view that Iran has been threatening on three levels. One, threatening its own people with their actions that they’ve taken where tens of thousands of people have been killed for trying to exercise their human rights. Secondly, that Iran could not be allowed to be in a position of acquiring nuclear weapons, that that would represent an enormous threat to stability in the world. And thirdly, as well, that Iran had engaged for decades now, over 37 years that the regime has been in place, in promoting terrorism around the world, in the region through its support for proxies such as Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. But also, of course, they brought terrorism to our shores here when the IRGC was responsible for at least two attacks on Australian soil. Now, we took strong action at the time to expel the ambassador – the first time that Australia has expelled an ambassador since the Second World War. We closed our embassy in Tehran. And I think Iran’s actions as well in the indiscriminate action it has taken out against at least 12 nations, not nations that are participating in attacks on Iran, countries like the United Arab Emirates, for example, where so many Australians were, some 21,000 Australians are there. They’re friends of Australia. They haven’t been participants in this, but the seemingly random attacks from everywhere from Cypress, to all of the Gulf states, Azerbaijan, the missile fired towards Türkiye and towards a NATO state. These are all issues that really should reinforce the nature of this regime.

GILBERT: Are you surprised then that your friend Keir Starmer equivocated? Other world leaders have equivocated, you went in and backed the US strongly. Are you surprised by that reaction?

PRIME MINISTER: My job is to assess Australia’s position, and I think that the attack on Australian soil made our position quite clear. It really brought home to Australians that the nature of this regime wasn’t just engaging in proxy terrorism – through Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis – but was prepared to reach across the other side of the world to promote an attack on Australian soil to promote division here in Australia.

GILBERT: And I know you didn’t support the fact that, you criticised the mourning of the tyrant, and many of your ministers have said similar things. Would you and have you asked the security agencies look into those mosques, those leaders, those venerating the tyrant?

PRIME MINISTER: What I’m about here is promoting social unity here. I’m not looking for division. The Australian Government position has been very clear, and it’s an unequivocal one.

GILBERT: When you look at that sort of reaction though, it wouldn’t go down well with Iranian expats, with many Australians who would look at that behaviour, when you when you look at it, does it inform your thinking when it comes to migration debate, for example, if those values are not Australian values not Australian values that you hear out of a mosque or community centre like that?

PRIME MINISTER: What I’m interested in is promoting social cohesion. I’m also at the same time promoting a consistent and clear and unequivocal Australian foreign policy.

GILBERT: Will our agencies be monitoring those groups?

PRIME MINSTER: Look, we –

GILBERT: Espousing, sort of, support for the dead Ayatollah?

PRIME MINISTER: What our agencies do is do their work. We allow them to do their work, and without ongoing running commentary on that work that they undertake. But I am confident that they do to the best of their capacity. They do extraordinary work, and they deserve our support, and one of the ways that we give them support is not by running a commentary on a regular basis. We allow them to get about.

GILBERT: On the broader issue of the legality, you hear from the Greens and others criticising you for supporting it, that it’s illegal. Do people need to factor in those things that you looked at earlier? There were four decades of proxy or terrorism support, the fact that this was a regime that brutalised its own people. That they committed offences right around the world. When we look at whether it’s legal under international law, those grey zone tactics and warfare, do you have to factor that in?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, the legal questions are, of course, questions for the states that launched the attack, the United States and Israel. What our task is to be really clear about what Australia’s interests are and what the interests of the world are in promoting global peace, security and prosperity.

GILBERT: It’s going to have a massive impact economically on us too, isn’t it?

PRIME MINISTER: Look, there is no question that when you have a global event like this, it will have an economic impact. We’re not immune from that, but we come to it from a position of strength. We have the largest fuel reserves in Australia that we’ve had for 15 years. We’ve had the national accounts this week that showed the economy growing the fastest it has in three years. We have an unemployment rate that is at 4.1 per cent. Now, we’re not immune, though, from the effects just as the –

GILBERT: What are you worried about in terms of the effects, most?

PRIME MINISTER: Of course, the inflationary impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine had an impact here. This could have an impact here as well. That is factored in by how long this lasts for, the way that this plays out will, of course, have an impact on supply chains as well. So we’re monitoring that on a regular basis. So our priorities are firstly, to keep Australians safe. How do we get Australians home safely? How do we provide some protection for them? People who are in the region, in the Gulf States.  

GILBERT: And where is that, by the way? What’s your latest advice on the Australians there?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we are hopeful that more flights continue, of course, to land from the Middle East. We think that is the quickest way for them to come home. But we’ve also put in place some contingencies as well.

GILBERT: And the contingencies, the military assets that have gone there. Are you comfortable that that airspace now is safe to get people out from your advice?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, look, this is a changing situation – hour by hour. We’ve seen attacks at the airport at Dubai, we’ve seen issues in Doha, we see issues right across the region. So we are continuing to monitor the situation. When it’s safe to do so, the commercial flights have been able to be undertaken.

GILBERT: You’ve got to get going, but I want to ask you a few other questions to wrap up. The world leader visiting amid the conflict, Mark Carney being here. He’s making his point about rupturing world order, middle powers working together. Is that the only way forward? Do you see that as the way that Australia really needs to shore up its economy and its security by working with the likes of Canada, Japan, Korea and others?

PRIME MINISTER: It’s what we’ve been doing since 2022 since I became prime minister. Developing those really important relations, not forgetting our historic alliance with the United States, of course, is critical. Our relationship with the UK. But how do we reach out, particularly, in our region? Now, Canada is a particularly important partner. They’re part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, they’re an APEC nation. They’re a nation as well where our economies are complementary. We’re both great resource nations. We can cooperate in areas such as critical minerals. We will be two superpowers, as Prime Minister Carney said, in the production of critical minerals. We’ve got a strategic reserve, they’ve got a similar structure in place. How do we make sure that we work together in our common interest?

GILBERT: Do you think that we can? Because there’s been talk about working closely with Canada, more closely for a long time. But how do we take the words into action?

PRIME MINISTER: The relationship has never been stronger. The relationship that we had, my invitation to the G7, Prime Minister Carney coming here, even at what is a turbulent global time, as an indication of the priority that Canada places on this relationship. It wasn’t just Prime Minister Carney, it was the Finance Minister, the Defence Minister, all here having discussions with our counterparts as well. We’ve put in place annual meetings, structures in place as well, and I’ll visit Canada sometime later in this term. It’s consistent as well with what we’ve done in ASEAN, the relationship we’re building with Indonesia, with India, with our Pacific neighbours, as well as of course, our traditional partners in North Asia, of Korea and Japan. But also the improvements and moves to stabilise the relationship with China is also very important in our region. So we have an all-hands-on-deck approach. The European Union, we’re busy trying to finalise the agreement –

GILBERT: For free trade?

PRIME MINISTER: The Free Trade Agreement. That would be substantial.

GILBERT: Will that happen soon?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, we’re very close.

GILBERT: Sounds like it’s, what? Within days?

PRIME MINISTER: We’re very close to an agreement, and that would be very significant indeed of opening up those markets, but also strengthening free and fair trade at a time where that very concept is under challenge.

GILBERT: You’ve been generous with your time, it would be remiss of me if  I didn’t ask you about the first week of Angus Taylor’s leadership within the parliament. The Liberal Party feel like they’ve steadied the ship, and they’re cohesive now, and they’re going to put forward a good fight now. Do you recognise that this could get a bit more challenging for the government over coming months?

PRIME MINISTER: We certainly are never complacent, but I thought they had a shocker of the week. I thought instead of a Shadow Treasurer, that should be taken seriously at a time of economic turbulence around the world, they went two days without asking a single question about economy or about cost of living. When they did first start talking about it the Shadow Treasurer chose to sing. It was almost like he’s a parody. You don’t need the Betoota Advocate when you’ve got a guy as Shadow Treasurer who thinks it’s appropriate to sing a parody song just before Question Time. And they didn’t ask about the war in the Middle East that’s going on that’s having such a major impact at all. So some of them are quite pleased with themselves – there’s been people moved down the front, down the back. And I think that they’ve got a way to go if they’re going to be taken seriously as an alternative government.

GILBERT: Prime Minister Albanese, thanks for your time.  

PRIME MINISTER: Thanks very much.

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

rime Minister Carney, Madame Fox-Carney, it is my great honour and absolute pleasure to welcome you and all the members of your delegation to our Parliament, on behalf of the people of Australia.

And I know I speak for every member of this place, when I say we are very much looking forward to your address.

It may help you to know that back in 1839, Britain sentenced 58 French-Canadians involved in the rebellion in Quebec, to be transported to New South Wales, and put to work, widening Parramatta Road, which goes through my local electorate in Sydney and past Canada Bay, in the electorate of the Member for Reid.

In 1854, it was a Canadian, Henry Ross, who stood in the centre of the Eureka Stockade at Ballarat and raised a new flag.

The iconic Southern Cross, a symbol of the miners’ struggle for justice.

In other words, Prime Minister, Canadian rebels with bold ideas have always been welcome here in Australia.

That is because our countries have always recognised something of ourselves in each other.

We are two societies enriched by Indigenous cultures and their love and connection to the beauty of our lands and our waters.

Commonwealth countries that have forged unique, proud and independent identities.

Democracies that did not just adopt the Westminster system – we made it fairer, stronger and our own.

Two nations that are at our very best when we look over our wide horizons.

When we look out to the world – and bring our values with us, as we engage with it.

The first Australian Prime Minister to address a joint sitting of the Canadian Parliament was our great wartime Labor leader, John Curtin.

Standing in your House of Commons on the 1st of June, 1944, just five days before Australians would help Canadians take – and hold – Juno Beach, Curtin looked to the future those brave men were fighting for.

How to secure a lasting peace, worth the winning.

How to build an economy and society worthy of the service, sacrifice and suffering of those who had kept it free.

And the role that Australia and Canada had to play in this.

Curtin said this:

“In a world where none of us is strong enough to stand alone, we shall discover how – and by what means – we can best stand with and for each other”

More than eight decades on – even in a new world order – that old test endures.

Technology is changing the nature of conflict and heightening the risk – and cost – of escalation.

And if ever nations such as ours had the luxury of imagining that distance alone kept us safe, those days are certainly gone.

The same Iranian Regime launching indiscriminate attacks on nations across the Middle East orchestrated antisemitic attacks on a synagogue and a small business here in Australia in 2024.

For us, as two democracies in an age of polarisation.

As two dynamic trading nations in a time of disrupted supply chains.

And as two middle powers in an era of strategic competition.

Australia and Canada must seek and create new ways to stand with – and for – each other.

Prime Minister, for all the comfortable ties of old affection, what makes the friendship between Australia and Canada noteworthy is what we do not share.

We do not share a border, a region, a hemisphere, or any market smaller than the global one.

Yet this makes the connection between our countries more meaningful, not less.

Because our co-operation, our partnership, is a positive choice – not a necessity.

When we work together it is on the basis of our shared convictions – not mutual convenience.

And when we do, when we stand in solidarity with the brave people of Ukraine.

When we work together to seize the economic opportunities of clean energy.

When we strengthen our defence industry co-operation, including through Australia’s biggest-ever defence export, the world-leading ‘Over The Horizon Radar’ technology.

And when we face-up to the urgent global challenge of climate change.

Because we know what it means for our unique environments, for our farmers and growers and producers and for our firefighters, who for decades have travelled between our nations to help each other in the toughest of times, and now face the prospect of their fire seasons overlapping because of climate change.

When we act together, we demonstrate to our citizens that government is not a passive institution, it is an instrument for positive change.

And what’s more, when we send a message to all those nations that look to us – as equals, as peers, as neighbours, and as leaders.

That they too have choice, agency and a part to play.

Because peace, security and prosperity are not the preserve of the great powers alone.

They are our common cause – and our collective responsibility.

Prime Minister, Australia and Canada are middle powers in a world that is changing.

We cannot change it back.

But we can back ourselves, back our citizens – and back each other.

And your visit reflects our shared ambition for Australia and Canada to do more together, at a deeper level.

To build on our shared strengths, from our resources and critical minerals to defence technology, to the investing power of our superannuation and pension funds.

Prime Minister, in this decade, where nearly every single challenge is a global one.

The distance between our two nations has never mattered less.

And the closeness of our values has never mattered more.

Together, let us seize the opportunities that the world holds for us.

You are very welcome here in our Parliament today, I thank you for your ongoing friendship and our regular dialogue. You’ll be welcome in Australia always.

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

strong>ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Prime Minister and your delegation, you are very welcome in Australia. Our two nations share values. We share common interests as well. One of the things that we’ve been discussing over a period of time is as middle powers, how we can cooperate across the whole sphere of economic, defence, social, environmental relationships as well. We’re both impacted by climate change, and one of the practical ways that we assist each other is your firefighters helping us and our firefighters helping you. Unfortunately, those seasons are becoming longer, which means the challenge is something that we need to deal with, not just in the short term, but the long term as well. We have also shared our experience, how we deal with the changing world, how that evolves around defence and security issues, but also practical issues of the impact of new technology. Our ban on social media for under 16s has been something that we regard as world leading, been quite successful up to this point. And that’s just one element of how we deal with ensuring that the positives which new technology brings; productivity benefits. We’ve never been more interconnected, distance has never been less important than it is today. But at the same time, we need to make sure that we secure advantages in employment, in our interaction, the way that society functions as well in terms of social cohesion. So, we have much to learn off each other, much to gain from cooperation with each other, and it’s been a pleasure to get to know yourself and Diana over a relatively short period of time, but to build that relationship between our two nations, and your visit here, following on from the warm welcome I received at the G7, just seems like a few weeks ago, held a little while ago, was also something that I appreciated, but Australia appreciated it as well. You are welcome.

MARK CARNEY, PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA: Thank you very much, Prime Minister. And let me start with that G7, it was greatly enhanced by your presence and some of the discussions that we’ll have today around this table, and more broadly, some of the agreements that were, our governments are signing reflect the progress we started there. Secondly, you and I met first time properly, we’ve met a few times virtually, but first time properly back in April. And yes, a natural relationship. And I think a natural relationship partly because of your personality, but also because of our two countries and so much that we share. We navigate to the North Star, you to the Southern Cross, but with the same orientation, the same underlying values, and that gets expressed across a range of issues that are both great challenges but tremendous opportunities. You touched on some defence cooperation necessitated by a more divided and dangerous world, with trusted allies. The shift in technological change that we’re seeing across artificial intelligence brings risk to our sovereignty if we don’t control the stack across all aspects of AI brings great possibility to our societies in terms of the application, and rightly, as you’ve emphasised, and this is, I think, bred in the bone of Australia, and certainly your government, is the importance of inclusiveness and ensuring that AI works for all, and one of our shared challenges is to make sure that that happens as quickly as possible. So, we’re looking forward to learning from you, cooperating in those areas, cooperating in other strategic areas, such as critical minerals and financial services, where we are quiet powerhouses in and of ourselves. And if I may say that more volatile global environment, which is likely to persist for some time, the strength of our financial systems, the options, the strength of national balance sheets, the strength of our large pension funds, the supers, and the supers afford us tremendous opportunities in that world, is crucial. So, thank you. Thank you for the honour of today, but also the substance.

[Remarks in French]

And I’ll finish just to observe the following, which is your Co-Presidency of COP31 this year, you talked about it, very important that leadership, and also the prospect, I know it’s early days, but you tend to win elections, Prime Minister. It’s early days for the Security Council position 29-30, and there’s a real opportunity through what we would call coalitions and variables, we all introduce some common values, building that out on specific issues, to help come behind your efforts and make not just this relationship, but the world a better place, more just. So, thank you very much. 

PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Thanks, Prime Minister.

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

Drysdale Fire Brigade will field an urban senior running team at the upcoming VFBV CFA State Firefighter Championships following a 13-year hiatus, made up of eager first timers.

What started with a casual conversation between a few Drysdale and Portarlington brigade members and a visit to the 2025 Championships in Mooroopna, quickly turned into many hands raised to get involved.

Drysdale firefighter of five years, Anthony Connally has taken on the role of both the coach and a runner, following in the footsteps of his father who was a fierce competitor back in the 90s.

“There is a lot of family history here for me, my father used to run a long time ago,” Anthony said.

“As we are both interested, we headed to the champs last year and had a look at what had changed since 2013 to decide if we thought we could make it happen within the brigade.

“We reached out to long-time runners at Osborne Park and Melton Fire Brigades, and they were a great help in getting us going.

“We all felt that we have the time now and now’s a better time than any, so why not?”

While they are running under the Drysdale banner, three members from Portarlington will join in with them on the weekend of 28-29 March.

After competing in four local competitions so far, Anthony said he is feeling good about their progress.

“We’ve got a pretty excited team that we have built from scratch and we’re pretty happy with the way we’ve been going,” Anthony said.

“It has already been a long season for us – we started training back in May last year.

“It’s been a process of preparing equipment and getting everyone equipped to run for the first time.

Anthony said the runners are most looking forward to the hose and reel sixes event.

“Every demo (competition) we have gone to, we have actually won that event, so it has been going well,” Anthony said.

“Our training has paid off, because we’ve been getting some great times.”

Anthony’s father is a life member of Drysdale and ran during Drysdale’s ‘A’ section team back in 1994. He is now assisting Anthony with coaching duties and imparting his wisdom to the next generation of runners.

Off the track throughout January, several brigade runners were deployed in strike teams to assist at the fires in Mount Mercer, Longwood and within the Great Otway National Park.

“Every single one of us, besides two of our runners, have been on multiple strike teams this summer,” Anthony said.

“I did four deployments myself, and we’ve got another member who has been out five times. It’s been a busy season for us all, but we’re more than happy to help, and it’s nice to come back together for events like this.”

Submitted by	CFA media

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

The children of the Carlisle River Fire Brigade Captain have left their mark on the local community this fire season, putting together care packages for those who needed it most.

When the Carlisle River and Kennedy Creek fires kicked off on 9 January in the Great Otway National Park, the threat to surrounding residents was far-reaching and prolonged, with final containment not until 1 February.

Carlisle River Fire Brigade 1^st Lieutenant Krystal May, and husband Captain Rob May spent the month of January juggling jumping on the truck to assist with the fire response, looking after the safety of their kids and fielding concerns of their own house being impacted.

“It was very hectic, and I found when I was on the fire truck fighting the fire, I was doing what I needed to do, but then I had that sense of guilt that I wasn’t there for the community elsewhere,” Krystal said.

“Then vice versa, when I was helping the community, I felt guilty that I wasn’t fighting the fire. So, wearing those two hats between Lieutenant and community safety I found difficult at times.”

When off the truck, it didn’t take long for community-minded Krystal to get in contact with the Salvation Army to try and replenish items locals were needing during their recovery efforts.

“They delivered a van load of essential items twice to the Carlisle River Hall – from shampoo and conditioner to a whole heap of food, non-perishables, soaps, and toilet paper,” Krystal said.

“It was everything our community members couldn’t access at the time. A lot of them were also too scared to try to get out, because you had to go through Gellibrand or Simpson.”

From there, two of their children, 8-year-old Sasha and 12-year-old Dexter took it upon themselves to dive in and help Krystal and Rob package and distribute the much-needed items.

“They said to me, we are coming and we are helping. They were just beautiful. They came down multiple times a day and just wanted to be down there helping people,” Krystal said.

“They did such a fantastic job. They even named each care package and made sure everything was stocked. We were getting people to meet us at the hall to get what they needed too.

“We enlisted the role of the Captain, being dad, and once the kids had put them together, Rob would go out and deliver them.

“They found it very rewarding, and both have such a helping spirit, it wouldn’t surprise me if they do become firefighters in years to come or embed themselves in the community in another way.

“Sasha has already announced she will the Captain in the future, Rob needs to look out!”

Krystal said while the month was challenging and devastating, it brought a lot of people together who may not have crossed paths before, and the notion of helping others was widespread.  

“Everyone was very thankful for the care packages, and a few people were a bit shy to come down and grab one because they thought there were others who needed it more,” Krystal said.

“But they’d often get picked up on the way by someone else, even if it was just toilet paper that they needed. It was wonderful to see the community come together.”

Submitted by	CFA media

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

Newstead & District Fire Brigade are in their 15th year of fundraising for Good Friday Appeal

Newstead and District Fire Brigade members Christopher and Cheryl Simmins have a deep connection to the Good Friday Appeal, and one that sadly comes with a great deal of grief.

When their seven-month-old son James passed away in 1977, the support from staff at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) left a profound impact on them.

“Our son James would often go blue and stop breathing, and we’d rush him to the doctor, but by the time we got there he would be fine,” Christopher said.

 “Then one morning he was transferred to RCH, where he remained until he passed away seven months later.

“The staff at RCH were amazing, and treated James as if he was their own child.

“We dealt with many specialists, many surgeries, all different types of medication and nothing helped. We know now that he had a unique neuromuscular atrophy, but it’s still never been fully understood.”

Despite the incredible toll James’ loss had on them, Christopher and Cheryl became passionate about fundraising for the Good Friday Appeal. Now the local Area Manager for the Appeal, it was Christopher that ultimately led the Newstead Fire Brigade to get behind the cause. 

“He [James] was there, and then he wasn’t. We couldn’t drive near the hospital for about 20 years, because it just brought on so much trauma. After he passed away, I threw myself into helping as much as I could at the time, but it was devastating,” Christopher said.

“We moved to Newstead in 1984, and I joined the brigade and became fully involved in everything they do, all the community events. Separately, Cheryl and I also fundraised for RCH.

“The brigade had never fundraised for the Appeal before. It took a while, but in 2010 I asked the ‘has anyone here ever needed The Royal Children’s Hospital?’, and half the brigade put their hand up. So, we started from there.”

In 2011, their first year of fundraising as a brigade, they raised $850. But they also achieved something bigger – shifting mindsets in the brigade and proving that it could be done.

“Getting started and breaking the ice, in a sense, was a bit tricky. But the personal connections to the hospital – whether it was a child, sibling, niece or nephew – it helped people to understand the importance,” Christopher said.

“Mine and Cheryl’s approach is that it’s not how much you raise, but being part of something that’s bigger than us. It’s for the betterment of the kids, the research, and the awareness. Whether we raise $500 or $500,000, it’s all about the spirit of the endeavour.”

On Good Friday Christopher and Cheryl can often be found generously taking time to hear stories of those who have been impacted by the Hospital.

As Newstead and District members fundraise for the 15th time this year, they continue to honour the many members of the community who have been impacted by the work of the hospital – including, of course, Christopher and Cheryl.

“I’ve never forgotten the love and care that the RCH gave us,” Christopher said.

Submitted by	CFA Media

Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

CFA’s driving capability is soon to become virtual, with development underway for five mobile driving simulators.

Submitted by	CFA Media