<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used his </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/anthony-albanese-national-press-club-live-updates-address-to-the-nation-latest-news-headlines/d60bb9a4-d067-44c3-afa2-cc0908aba0b6" rel="" target="_blank" title="National Press Club speech"><span>National Press Club speech</span></a><span> to fill in some of the gaps left from his rare yet inconsequential address to the nation, including details of a $1 billion plan to help fuel-impacted businesses.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The PM outlined the government's economic agenda as Australians battle spiralling costs triggered </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-2-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/042b435f-0673-4c9e-b6a1-c6e0c193210b" rel="" target="_blank" title="by the war on Iran"><span>by the war on Iran</span></a><span> and offered reassurances that there is a plan if the conflict rages on for longer than expected.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>His speech was also peppered with key updates on the federal government's sweeping </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/prime-minister-anthony-albanese-flags-major-gambling-reform/e4425f1b-dffe-4ca1-93e8-f8c1ce24d66f" rel="" target="_blank" title="gambling reform"><span>gambling reform</span></a><span> and a small preview of the May federal budget.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-supreme-court-storms-out-birthright-citizenship-case-hearing-usa-news/08eaaded-0c31-4a88-b0ac-51736aadc8c0" target="_blank"><strong><span>Donald Trump storms out of Supreme Court as he faces loss</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/donald-trump-strait-of-hormuz-will-us-president-walk-away-from-critical-oil-waterway/838f3923-22d9-4a3b-ac22-b4997066be7c" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump is refusing to deal with the Strait of Hormuz. But he might be bluffing</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Fuel-hit businesses to get $1bn in loans</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Among the key takeaways from the PM's speech was the announcement of $1 billion in interest-free loans offered to truck drivers, freight companies, fuel and fertiliser producers buckling under the rising cost of petrol and diesel.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/anthony-albanese-national-press-club-speech/075e5d56-556c-4a0d-9d2b-2ac3c96be3db" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The cash will come from the off-budget National Reconstruction Fund and will act as a "shock absorber" for some of the pressures faced by businesses.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These firms are not just being affected by this crisis, they are essential to Australia getting through this crisis," Albanese said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"So our government will extend their credit to help them, and the farmers and producers who rely on these supply chains, to weather the storm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"No government can promise to eliminate the pressures this global crisis will impose.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But we can be a buffer against the worst of it."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>PM defends lacklustre national address</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Albanese had been widely expected to offer more details during yesterday's national address, a televised message usually reserved for wart-time presidents or major announcements.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The PM defended his remarks and said it was a device to "talk directly to the nation" rather than deliver any specific news.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I took the opportunity to talk directly to the nation, that is more important than ever, because of the nature of the noise that is out there… the conspiracy theories out there," Albanese said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He added that the spike in fuel demand had necessitated his call for calm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-australia-when-will-petrol-prices-go-down-explained/79bd42b8-cb81-4def-abf3-d4f6fec80680" target="_blank"><strong><span>As fuel excise set to be halved, when will fuel prices in Australia go down?</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Fuel excise savings to reach 32c per litre</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The federal government has reached an agreement with the states and territories to negotiate an increased reduction of the fuel excise.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Combined with the extra cuts, the PM said drivers will now save a total of 32 cents per litre at the pump.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The change was signed into law by Treasurer Jim Chalmers today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Albanese said he hoped this would immediately impact prices for Australian motorists.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We want this added relief to start showing up at our petrol stations straight away," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>A preview of May's federal budget</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The PM also offered a brief preview into next month's federal budget.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The ever-present issue of the cost of living will remain at the top of the agenda, Albanese said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He flagged it will be his government's "most important" budget since he came into power in 2022.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"One priority remains helping people with the cost of living. And that is the balance that we will strike next month's budget," the PM said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is our government's most important budget to date and ambitious.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It has to be."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/easter-long-weekend-2026-whats-open-good-friday-trading-hours-coles-woolworths-aldi-explainer/066401e6-3e49-4175-9439-4da38006d30c" target="_blank"><strong><span>Easter trading hours 2026: When shops are open this long weekend</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>'We will get through this'</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There is a contingency plan in place if the war "deteriorates" our economy further, Albanese said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He assured Australians that the nation will "get through this" but could not offer any timeline for when the war may end.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We don't know how long this will go for, we don't know when it will end and therefore the consequences of this are connected with that," Albanese said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span> "We'll come through this. And my job is to provide appropriate reassurance which is what we're doing," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Albanese also tempered fears over any COVID-style mandates or lockdowns.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This will not be like COVID," he added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Partly because the nature of this global crisis is very different.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But also because we have learned from that time – and we are deliberately taking a different approach."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>