Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he plans to lead the country from The Lodge in Canberra but has promised the regions will not be left behind.
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In an exclusive interview with the ACM network a fortnight into the top job, Mr Albanese said change was also on the way for the 47th Parliament.
He mentioned that he plans for parliamentary standards to be substantially lifted and there is more say coming for the now much larger and diverse cross-bench.
With Parliament returning on July 26, the Prime Minister said Question Time can, and must, function better - even with 16 crossbenchers wanting a say.
"I certainly want things to change," he said. "And I want everyone to have the opportunity to participate in the parliament."
Mr Albanese said regional Australia needed to be treated with more respect and said he understood its concerns, pointing to his own history as Regional Development Minister and some of Labor's rising stars - Kristy McBain and Murray Watt - slotting into important regional portfolios.
Senator Watt is now the Agriculture Minister while Ms McBain, the member for Eden-Monaro, now has the portfolios of regional development, territories and local government. Catherine King retained the infrastructure portfolio.
"I think that the key is to identify what are the comparative advantages that different regions have to grow their economy, to grow jobs, to support living standards in those regions, so it will be really important going forward," Mr Albanese said.
"I think that across the government, I'm a great believer in regional economic development, taking pressure off the big capital cities.
"And to do that you need to have proper planning, proper processes and work with local communities."
Change is coming in Parliament as well to reflect the May 21 election result.
Mr Albanese is highly critical of the centralisation of political power in the prime minister's office.
And although a Labor majority government was elected, the vote also managed to upend both major parties with a stunning election of a record 16 diverse crossbenchers.
"I certainly want things to change and questions should be proportionate to representation in the parliament," Mr Albanese said.
"So that will mean more questions from the crossbench, which they're entitled to.
"And we'll make sure that the standing orders reflect that I want everyone to have the opportunity to participate in the parliament.
"And that means government members, but it also means members of the opposition and crossbench members."
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The matter of who will be next Speaker, whether Labor or independent, will be decided when Parliament resumes, but Mr Albanese is all praise for former speaker and now retired Liberal MP Tony Smith.
The Prime Minister said the Parliament can, and must, function better.
"There was a law of diminishing returns between the Abbott government, the Turnbull government and the Morrison government were towards the end there," he said.
"There was no debate.
"It was all shut down.
"Question Time became just an opportunity to sledge the opposition rather than outline the government's agenda and policies.
"And it was, I think, not worthy of the Australian people."
Mr Albanese responded to the survey of ACM readers conducted earlier this year, which urged for more federal attention on regional healthcare, roads and internet services.
He said attending to each of those issues would be important to his government.
"We have a really strong plan for regional communications with Michelle Rowland, regional health will be looked after by Emma McBride and that team as well, another regional member," Mr Albanese said.
"I know that issues like our GP plan that's been developed and supported by the AMA is really important to address those challenges which are there."