Albanese's initial important address in 2025: Moving from Australia to a Throwing Down the Gauntlet to Dutton

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used his first key speech of 2025 to criticise the Opposition ahead of an impending election, gave his thoughts on Australia Day, and announced a $10,000 “cash for apprentices policy”.

Here are six key moments from Albanese’s Friday speech at the National Press Club in Canberra.

Australia Day is a ‘celebration’

Albanese’s speech came on the same day Nine Newspapers published a new poll showing support for maintaining Australia’s national day as January 26 had increased from 47 per cent to 61 per cent over the past two years.

To many, Australia Day is a day of celebration of the values, freedoms and pastimes of our country.

But for others, particularly among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, January 26 , but is seen as a day that commemorates the invasion by British settlers of lands already owned.

Albanese said on Australia Day, he’ll be celebrating.

“I firmly believe it’s a celebration of while we are the best country on earth,” he said.

“The Australia Day awards tomorrow night are an inspiration every year. And the citizenship ceremony — seeing the joy of people pledging their allegiance to our country is something that lifts me up every year.”

Albanese also said January 26 was an opportunity to focus on the “fullness and richness of our history, including the fact that we are the continent with the oldest continuous culture on earth, and what a privilege it is.”

He also acknowledged the date was a “hurtful day, a difficult day, for many First Nations people”.

“But it’s one in which we can celebrate what we are today — whether it be our great history going back 65,000 years or whether it is the arrival of Europeans here, or whether it be the great multicultural nation we’ve built.”

Albanese also took aim at the Opposition leader over January 26, saying he needed to “chill out”.

“Sometimes, I think that Peter Dutton every year has a fight with an imaginary friend over something that most Australians are just getting on with — Australia Day.”

“One of the things that Australia Day celebrates is the fact that we’re not a Soviet-style command system. You know, like just chill out! Get on with life!”

Election a choice between ‘two fundamentally different approaches’

Albanese used his first major speech of the year to draw attention to the differences between himself and Dutton ahead of an impending election.

“This election is a choice between two fundamentally different approaches and vastly different agendas,” he said. “Two completely different visions for our nation, for our economy, for our people, and our place in the world.”

He added: “It’s a choice between our determination and optimism, or their fear and negativity.”

Albanese on Dutton’s ‘weakness’

Albanese took aim at Dutton for not having faced the media at the National Press Club since he became Opposition leader in 2022.

“Weakness is not having the guts to come to the National Press Club,” he said.

“Weakness is just saying no to everything before you even see the detail. What’s tough is coming here, fronting up, as I did last year, saying that we have changed our mind on tax cuts. Fessing up. It wasn’t what we said we’d do, but it of the right thing to do. And you’ll recall your reports at the time were not glowing of that decision, with respect!

“We’ll continue to make difficult decisions in the national interest, even if at times, there’s a personal cost to it, because I’m determined to lead a government that changes the country for the better.”

Albanese also responded to requests to have three debates at the National Press Club. While he deferred to his campaign director Paul Kerikssen, he added that he would, “even offer to give Peter Dutton a lift down from Parliament House in case he can’t find it”.

Peter Dutton declares Liberal party 'back in town' at unofficial election campaign launch image

No more referendums

After the Voice to Parliament referendum failed to pass, Albanese has said his government “will not be holding a referendum in our second term on any issues.”

“Referendums are hard to win in this country,” he said.

“And we’ve seen that all it takes is opposition … If people have an opportunity, as an opposition, to just say ‘no’, then they do.

“So, I’m focused on practical outcomes and making a difference. That’ll be my focus next term.”

$10k cash boost for tradies

Announcing a $10,000 cash boost for tradie apprentices, Albanese said “the people we’re counting on to build the new homes we need” are under “significant financial pressure”.

“Right now, a first-year carpentry apprentice earns about two-thirds of the minimum wage. Some apprentices earn even less; that’s before you buy things like tools, safety gear, clothing and boots,” he said.

“Our government wants to encourage more Australians to learn a trade and stay in construction. That’s why we’re going to provide more support for tradies while they’re training.

Albanese said Labor would raise the allowance paid to apprentices living away from home and will provide up to $10,000 through the new program to eligible bricklayers, electricians, carpenters and plumbers. This will come in the form of five payments of $2,000.

On his legacy

Asked about what legacy the first term of his government would leave, the prime minister referenced improvements in education, Medicare, and the economy.

He also pointed to his government’s moves to make childcare more accessible.

“We’re taking the steps, and I announced in December, for universal provision of childcare,” Albanese said.

“This will transform the way that Australia functions. It will transform opportunity and will make sure that every young Australian gets the best start in life.”