: Let's bring in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese live in Townsville. Thanks for joining us, PM. So we're expecting more rain. We can hear it behind you. Actually what's being done to help Queenslanders?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's torrential behind us here. You can probably see it and hear it. These are tough times but North Queenslanders are tough people. But we still have 7,000 homes without power. These have been devastating floods. We've seen a loss of life. There are further fears as well. We have provided, already, triggered the income support for individuals we have - last night I met with the Premier David Crisafulli here in Townsville. We signed off on support for eight different local government areas. This morning we will travel to, outside of Ingham, to the bridge that's been knocked out, that's cut off communities on the highway that will be reconstructed this morning in temporary form with the help of the Australian Defence Force. Clearly, we need to build back better there. That's one of the things that I've discussed with the Queensland Premier, how we work together on this. We are doing whatever we can. And just a shout out to all the emergency service workers, the volunteers, our Defence Force personnel. A special shout out to Singapore who've offered two Chinooks as well that are here for training in North Queensland to provide that additional support. But these are difficult times and this rain that is pouring down here, of course, will just make it more difficult.
NATALIE BARR, HOST: Yeah, we've seen before, Prime Minister. You know, we know floods, don't we? And so do Queenslanders. And people take, you know, months and months and months to cut through the red tape to rebuild. They just don't get enough help. Can you guarantee that the people behind you losing their homes now will get help this time?
PRIME MINISTER: You bet, Nat. And that's why I'm on the ground here with the Premier. As I say, we've triggered income support, we've already signed off on the support for local government here. We have ADF, we have - choppers have come not just from the Townsville base, but from Oakey as well to provide support. Townsville has a big garrison, of course, and so there are a lot of ADF personnel who are here helping and working really well with the Queensland Government to provide whatever support is necessary. I'll go with the Premier and local MPs to the Emergency Management Centre here in Townsville in a short period of time and have a briefing before we travel ourselves to see firsthand, myself and the Premier, this bridge that's been knocked out. And we're continuing to do whatever is necessary. We will provide whatever resources are necessary to help rebuild.
BARR: Ok, moving on. The world is still reacting, I guess, to Donald Trump's plan to take over Gaza and turn it into the Riviera of the Middle East. You've said you don't want to comment on US foreign policy, but let's look at it. Hamas still has a very heavy presence in Gaza. They have the backing of Hezbollah and Iran. The US is saying we could put boots on the ground there. We're tied to the US. So, we could be involved, couldn't we? What's your comment?
PRIME MINISTER: No, Australia will our own decisions and our position's the same as when I woke up yesterday morning, Nat, which is that we support a two state solution in the Middle East. The right of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security side by side. That has been the long standing bipartisan position. I note that the Coalition said the same thing yesterday, confirmed that that remained their position. That has been the long standing US position as well, and remains the case. We don't see any role for Hamas in a future Palestinian state. We've made that very clear as well. But quite clearly we need that long term solution in the Middle East.
SHIRVINGTON: I mean, instability in the Middle East affects our security here at home as well, doesn't it? I mean, what about - we've spoken of Penny Wong over the last couple of weeks since President Trump has been in Office and she's spoken about the relationship, the good relationship that we have with the US and our longtime allies. If Donald Trump does go into a conflict in the Middle East, we're going to say, 'nope, we're not going to be a part of it'?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we make our own decisions as a sovereign nation and let's not get ahead of ourselves here. This is a statement that been made yesterday. I've said, for I think very sound reasons that, two things - One is Australia determines our foreign policy. Our foreign policy remains the same. And secondly, that I'm not going to run a running commentary on the statements of the US President on a day to day basis. What Australians want of their Prime Minister is to look after our own national interests. That precisely what I'm doing here in Townsville today, looking after the interests of North Queenslanders. Yesterday I was there in Canberra. We put together a $1.7 billion injection of funds into our public hospitals to support them right around the country. And we also put through the House of Representatives, Free TAFE. We've had 600,000 people trained with Free TAFE already. That's my priority.
BARR: Okay, so when the UK PM says Gazans must be allowed home, what's your reaction to that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, consistent with a two state solution is what we have said -
BARR: Which is against Trump -
PRIME MINISTER: We haven't changed our position - and we haven't changed our position, which is for a two state solution, not about anything other than providing a consistent position going forward.
BARR: So, do you talk to President Trump when he, when he makes an announcement like this that quite frankly has made the world reel, do you get on the phone to him? Because we are tied to America, aren't we? And this is out of the box?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we have an alliance with the United States. It's a very important one. We have an important economic relationship, an important defence relationship, including through AUKUS. We engage on matters that directly affect that relationship and it's a constructive one. They're an important nation for us and indeed for the world.
SHIRVINGTON: Can we bring it back to home? You spoke about that and the work that you're doing back home. And we already know that pro-Palestinian groups are going to protest against this. We also know the tensions within our community right now, extremely high. How are you going to get on the front foot to curb that?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, one of the things that people don't want in Australia - our multicultural, harmonious country that we have the great privilege of living in - is for conflict to be brought here. So, people of course have a right to express their views and they will do that. People have different views about the Middle East, but that should be done peacefully and respectfully. And we shouldn't bring conflict here in a way that breaks up that unity that we have as a nation. That is very important.
BARR: Okay. Well, Prime Minister, we thank you for your time from Queensland this morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you so much.
