Opening remarks - Meeting with Bill Gates

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Look, can I welcome you here very much. We haven't met before. But I've admired your work and your contribution, not just financially, but in raising debates, including the need to deal with health issues. We've just been through the pandemic, but we need to prepare for future health challenges, and the work that's being done on eradicating malaria and other diseases in our region is very important. And of course, climate change, my government was elected on the platform of taking climate change seriously. We've introduced the first legislative caps of 43% by 2030, and net zero by 2050. We're engaged in setting a whole range of mechanisms that will drive private sector investment. Here in Australia the business community was well ahead of the government in action. And now we're working with all of the state and territory governments as well as the private sector in driving that change through.

BILL GATES: That's fantastic. We've had a great partnership on global health, Gavi, polio. Thanks for your increase on Global Fund, a lot to do there. As you say, the preparedness for the next pandemic is still a discussion that hasn't been figured out. You know, malaria in the long run, we want to do the same thing we're doing with polio, which is eradicated regionally, and then eradicated all over the world. So both the Foundation and Breakthrough Energy are excited about the things we can do together.

PRIME MINISTER: You're very welcome here.