Anthony Albanian has thanked Western Australians for their “sacrifice” during the pandemic, reaffirming his promise to visit WA as Prime Minister 10 times a year.
Mr. Albanese held a press conference in Kings Park on Sunday morning with a contingent of WA federal MPs who were crucial to forming a majority government by Labour.
The prime minister had a private dinner with Prime Minister Mark McGowan and WA Education Minister Sue Ellery on Saturday night after arriving in Perth for a short stop before his three-day diplomatic visit to Indonesia.
“It’s great to be here in Western Australia over the Western Australia Day long weekend,” said Mr. Albanese.
“Last night, I was able to catch up with Prime Minister Mark McGowan. A good friend of mine for a long time, and we had a very pleasant dinner.
“We discussed issues of concern to Western Australia ahead of the meeting I will hold with the national cabinet late next week, which will meet in Canberra.
“This is my fifth visit to Western Australia this year, which isn’t too bad as I couldn’t come for half this year.
“But as the leader of the Labor Party, I made a commitment that I would come to Western Australia 10 times a year, and I repeat that commitment as Prime Minister.
“I will try to be a regular here, not just someone who comes by when there is an election campaign but spends time here because I want to be the prime minister of the whole country.”
Mr. Albanese later attended a celebratory barbecue at Sir James Mitchell Park in South Perth to thank the WA Labor volunteers, whom the Prime Minister called the “true believers”.
“They advocated for change, and Australians voted for change in the May 21 election, and change is what they get,” he added.
“There is a new government in Canberra – a new government that governs for all Australians whether they voted for Labor or whether we will try to get their vote next time.
“I am determined to rule for all Australians and make sure that we end the conflict, that we lower the temperature where everything the former government did – and I’ve seen some of it in the briefings I’ve already had as Prime Minister – everything was always about politics.
“I want it to be about the national interest, not the short-term political interest.”
Mr. Albanese confirmed he would soon announce dates for a federal cabinet meeting in Perth and a second meeting in Port Hedland within his first 12 months in power.
“I want to make sure we continue to work with Western Australians. I always enjoy my time here,” he continues.
“It’s an important part of the nation, and during the pandemic, Western Australia’s success in keeping our economy going during that period was absolutely vital.
“So I say to Mark McGowan and his government, but more importantly to the people of Western Australia, we appreciate the sacrifice you have made during that difficult time to keep each other safe, but it also benefited our national economy. †