Q: Prime Minister, government spending as a share of the economy is at a near-record high, at levels not too dissimilar from the COVID pandemic when the economy was in crisis. Have you left the budget in a position where government will be able to adequately respond in an event that there is a global recession?

Albanese:

Well, thanks for the question, which is very similar to a question that I got over here. Look, we have turned a – what we inherited – which was deficits each and every year – into other surpluses or a lower deficit.

Q: PM, Queensland today is extending the use of coal-fired power, pushing their plants out by three years and more. Are you concerned about that? Will that undermine efforts to bring down carbon emissions in Australia?

Albanese:

Look, they’re decisions of the Queensland government – they’re just that, a matter for the Queensland government. Of course, the Queensland government own their internally network and, of course, that has provided a significant benefit that I’ve seen during the flood events that have occurred. The fact that they are government-owned has meant that people have been able to reconnect with power, whoever was in government – Labor and now the LNP – and that’s been positive.