State and territory leaders have met with Anthony Albanese in Brisbane for national cabinet.
Look back on Friday's updates.
Key events
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Live updates
Catch up on the live update from national cabinet
By Bridget Judd
Stay up to date with the latest news and analysis
By Bridget Judd
Thanks for following along, this is where we'll leave our live coverage for today.
You can catch up on Friday's developments below, or download the ABC News app and subscribe to our range of news alerts for the latest news.
Didn't catch the press conference? Here's what you need to know
By Bridget Judd
That's a wrap on today's national cabinet meeting.
If you missed that press conference with the PM and state and territory leaders, here's what you need to know:
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National cabinet has endorsed $2.2b in measures to strengthen Medicare
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The announcements include expanding the nursing workforce to improve access to primary care and incentives for doctors to stay open for longer hours
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Housing ministers will develop a proposal outlining ways to strengthen renters rights, which will be dealt with by national cabinet later in the year
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Work will be undertaken to improve the migration system through increased visa processing capacity and expanding pathways to permanent residency for skilled workers
Population 'substantially' lower today compared to projections prior to pandemic
By Bridget Judd
Responding to a question about migration, the PM says their migration strategy will have an emphasis on the global labour market.
He says the population is "substantially" lower than the projections that were in place prior to the COVID pandemic.
"How do we attract the people who we need, the skills that we need and where we need them?" he says.
"And that's why we'll work with state and territory governments on those issues of how we deliver better outcomes."
On the topic of the Liddell Power Station closing
By Jessica Riga
In case you missed it: The last running turbine at the Liddell Power Station has powered down, marking the end of a 52-year legacy of generating electricity in the NSW Hunter Valley.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been asked about a risk of supply disruptions and if could it result in more pain for household budgets.
"I'm very confident that we can get this right. I want to pay tribute to the workers at Liddell who've done such extraordinary work over many, many decades," Albanese says.
"The problem with the former government is that they had a decade of inaction and delay and denial. During that decade, you saw four gigawatts leave the system and only one gigawatt come in. And that meant that we were more vulnerable as a result. We want to provide that investment certainty."
What feedback did the PM get from national cabinet about the voice referendum?
By Bridget Judd
Mr Albanese says it was "very positive" and state and territory leaders were unanimous in their support.
"As was Chris Minns's predecessor, Dominic Perrottet, as well," he says.
"This is an important reform. This is about giving respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, but it is also about how Australians see ourselves, but also how the world sees Australia as well."
'Are you going to be DJing a radio shock jock's wedding?'
By Bridget Judd
Now we're really tackling the hard news.
This question was put to the PM after it was revealed he's been invited to Kyle Sandilands' wedding.
"I accepted that invitation, and I intend to attend the wedding," he says.
"Kyle Sandilands is someone who's a significant figure and one of the things about Kyle Sandilands - I'll say this - a bloke who at one stage was homeless, living on the streets of Sydney, and has grown into someone who is a significant public figure, is a part of what is an Australian success story.
"So I was invited to the wedding. I said I'd go. And I keep my commitments, including to Kyle Sandilands."
What's the plan if states don't come to the party on NDIS?
By Jessica Riga
Reporter: What happens if the states don't want to do more, as Premier Palaszczuk said, it's a national scheme with the NDIS? What's the plan if the states won't come to the party?
Albanese: We're about making sure that we all have an interest in developing, making sure that the NDIS is sustainable going forward. And that's agreed. And that isn't just about jurisdictions. That's about the values of the people who stand up here. That's what's it's about. Making sure that people with disabilities get there support that they need. So that as well they can contribute fully to the economy.
One of the things about the NDIS and making sure that people with disabilities can fully participate in society, is that produces not, it shouldn't be seen as a cost, that's an investment. It's an investment in our economy, and also an investment in our humanity. It's those values that I share with everyone here.
Turning now to hospital funding
By Jessica Riga
Reporter: Up until a few months ago, [Victorian premier] Daniel Andrews was asking for the 50-50 funding for hospitals to be reinstated. Is that completely off the table or is there an opportunity for you to bring it back?
Albanese: The point is if you have the existing system with a change in the relative payments, that doesn't change the system. That doesn't change that. And what we're determined to do, whilst I'm sure that every state — I'll make this prediction — every state Premier and Chief Minister, if I said to them we're going to provide 50-50, they'd say that's great, but 60-40 would be better from the Commonwealth and 70-30 would be better still. That's the nature of it.
But what we're discussing here — and that's perfectly understandable — what we're discussing here and what the Premiers have done is come up with practical outcomes of reform that makes a difference, that recognises that there is a finite funds from all levels of government are under pressure. How do we make sure that every dollar of value comes from taxpayers expenditure? If we just put additional money into public hospitals without doing anything about primary healthcare, and, guess what? That would not be making a difference. What we're determined to do is to reform in a practical way.
Will the federal government look for a 50-50 split with the states to fund the NDIS?
By Bridget Judd
That question was just put to the PM following his comments about funding sustainability.
He says if the current projections continue, "then the Commonwealth at the end of the medium term would be contributing 82% of $97 billion in the NDIS".
"The growth factor when the NDIS was introduced was anticipated to be 4%, which is why the cap on spending from state and territory governments is 4%," he says.
"Now we're not proposing to change that. We want to work in a cooperative way, but states and territories can assist obviously in that process. But we're not trying to change that."
Let's unpack that comment about strengthing renters rights
By Jessica Riga
Reporter: You mentioned strengthening renters rights across the country. Obviously they're different across the jurisdictions, is the report about reform on a national settings?
Albanese: There's a range of measures that each of the state and territory jurisdictions have different provisions. And so what we're not seeking to do is to have absolutely uniform because different states will have different circumstances. But there are measures and commitments every state and territory is doing something in this area.
So what will occur over coming months is looking at the different programs that are in place. Some of those are around the frequency of any rent increase that can occur in at least one jurisdiction's case, it's also over the amount that can occur of any increase.
There are a range of measures that will be considered by state and territory governments to strengthen the system of renters' rights, agreement on that. There will — it's up to states and territories — this is within their power to determine. So I doubt whether you'll have a completely uniform system coming out. What you will have is housing ministers working together over coming months.
Budget to feature incentives to increase supply of housing
By Bridget Judd
Mr Albanese says they will also offer incentives to increase the supply of housing in the upcoming federal budget.
"We will increase the depreciation rate from 2.5% to 4% per year for eligible new build-to-rent projects, where construction commences after the budget date of 9th of May 2023," he says.
Planning ministers will develop a proposal for reforms to increase housing supply and affordability
By Bridget Judd
It'll be undertaken in the next six months and will be considered by national cabinet.
"In addition to that, the Commonwealth is also making substantial new investments. Supporting a better migration system through increased visa processing capacity, by expanding pathways to permanent residence for temporary skilled sponsored workers and taking steps to address migrant exploitation," he says.
"We know that in this country we have had a demand for everything from engineers to nurses to skilled workers, carpenters, bricklayers, people who have skills that are needed in the economy.
"The idea that we don't provide a permanent pathway for those skilled workers that we need is quite frankly not serving our country's interests."
What's being done to fix staff shortages in health?
By Jessica Riga
The PM is taking questions now.
Reporter: A number of premiers raised shortages as one of the key issues on the health front. What is being done to fix that and do you consider a boost in GP numbers is years away given the time it takes to train a GP?
Albanese: We are working to provide support and the measures that I spoke about of the $2.2 billion program were all aimed at providing greater GP access aimed at primary healthcare and how you support that.
In addition to that, the report done is about how you get people to be registered as GP who are eligible in a more efficient way as well. So there is not a single solution.
Albanese added he'll announce further urgent care clinics in another state or territory in the coming days.
Commonwealth to commence an independent review of infrastructure investment program
By Bridget Judd
Mr Albanese says it will adopt a "refreshed approach to infrastructure investment".
"We want to be able to examine the former government's program that quite frankly had inadequate amounts allocated for some projects," he says.
"They simply aren't enough for those projects to proceed."
National cabinet to focus on 'strengthening the rights of renters'
By Bridget Judd
The PM says housing ministers across the country will develop a proposal outlining ways to strengthen renters rights, which will be dealt with by national cabinet later in the year.
"State and territory governments have a range of measures in place. We want to make sure we look at best practice and we strengthen the rights of renters," he says.
"As part of the new national migration strategy, the Commonwealth will ensure that states and territories have a greater contribution to Australia's migration settings as well."
Albanese: Trajectory of NDIS expenditure 'is just not sustainable into the future'
By Bridget Judd
Mr Albanese says national cabinet also discussed the financial sustainability framework for the NDIS.
He says the country needs "a sustainable growth trajectory for the NDIS in order to support equity and fairness for all Australians who are living with disability".
"We know that the trajectory of NDIS expenditure is just not sustainable into the future, the PM says.
"Indeed, that trajectory projects some $97 billion on the NDIS over the medium term.
"The growth over the period in between the last budget and October, of course, was alone some $8 billion in just those few months. So we want to make sure that the promise of the NDIS is fulfilled."
Mr Albanese says they'll commit $720 million to lift the end NDIA's capability, capacity and systems "so it provides better support for participants".
Expanding nursing workforce, longer opening hours to see GPs on the agenda
By Bridget Judd
The PM is listing off a range of health targets, including:
- Expanding the nursing workforce to improve access to primary care.
- Improving access to, and delivery of, after hours delivery of primary care. It will include an incentive for doctors to stay open for longer hours
- They will also introduce Medicare patient ID to "support wraparound care for patients, registered with their local GP through new blended payment models"
National cabinet has endorsed $2.2b in measures to strengthen medicare
By Bridget Judd
Mr Albanese says improving primary care delivery to take pressure off public hospital systems will be a key focus.
"Firstly, supporting workforces to work at top of scope, including pharmacists, nurses and paramedics," he says.
"We need to provide pharmacists with the opportunity to deliver the services that they are capable of.
"That will provide support and income for community pharmacies but it will also take pressure of our GPs and off that system as well in the primary healthcare network."
National cabinet to announce a 'range of reforms'
By Bridget Judd
We're hearing from the PM now.
He says national cabinet has a "range of reforms around the theme for a better future".
"We all know that the challenge that we have with global inflation, with pressures on our economy, mean that the Commonwealth needs to work with state and territory governments in a cooperative way in order to achieve reform, to achieve our common objectives of lifting up the living standards of Australians," he says.
