He has been to Australia before, but this visit by Benjamin Netanyahu marks the first of a serving Israeli prime minister.
"I'm honoured to be the first Israel Prime Minister to officially visit Australia. God, it's been a long time coming and it celebrates really a hundred years of friendship of Australia to the Jewish people and their state."
After some brief remarks where he and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull spoke about the Australia-Israel relationship and working together on science and innovation projects, it was time for questions.
Mr Netanyahu was asked for his reaction to calls by former Labor prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Bob Hawke for Australia to not only support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but also to go a step further and formally recognise a Palestinian state.
Benjamin Netanyahu says any support for a Palestinian state must be contingent on the Palestinians recognising Israel's right to exist.
"We know that in the realities of the Middle East, if Israel is not there to ensure security then that state very quickly will become another bastion of radical Islam. So this is what I've been talking about and I've been talking about it for 8 years. I said we have to make sure that the Palestinians recognize the Jewish state and we have to ensure that Israel has the overriding security control of all the territories, all the territories. Other than that, I want the Palestinian to be able to govern themselves and to have all the freedoms to do so but not the freedom to destroy the Jewish state. They have to recognize Israel and Israel has to have the residual military control, that's my view, it hasn't changed."
Malcolm Turnbull says Australia's position remains unchanged.
"We support an outcome which has two states, where the Israeli people, the Palestinian people live side by side as a result of direct negotiations between them, and that is the fundamental point, and live together in peace and in the security that they're entitled to expect."
Mr Netanyahu also faced repeated questioning over an ongoing investigation in Israel where the national anti-fraud unit is examining allegations he and his 25-year-old son Yair received gifts, including holidays, from Australian billionaire James Packer.
Both leaders were asked to address the issue, with Mr Netanyahu grilled on what Mr Packer wanted in return and on the nature of the relationship.
(Netanyahu) "I think nothing will come of it because there is nothing there except friendship, which is a good thing."
(Turnbull) "And I, likewise, I can't comment and won't comment on an investigation of that kind and really have nothing further to add to what the prime minister has said. It is an investigation is Israel, it's been conducted by Israeli authorities, I assume, and it will take its course."
(Journalist) "Are you worried at all Prime Minister Netanyahu, though? It's a pretty serious investigation, it's moved up to a criminal investigation."
(Netanyahu) "No, I'm not worried at all, not at all."
