Interview with Kieran Gilbert, Sky News

KIERAN GILBERT: Joining me live in the studio is the Minister for Resources in Northern Australia, Madeleine King. Thanks for your time. I know there's a big presence of the Japanese resources industry in Australia at the moment, marking 50 years of our diplomatic relations. Can you tell me, are they calm about your plan for a gas reservation, or are they worried they're going to lose out?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, good to be here again, Kieran. There are a lot of people in town. It's the 50th anniversary of the NARA Treaty, the basic treaty for cooperation and friendship between our two countries. Really important. And it's built this mutual trust over many years. And your question goes to the role Australia plays in energy exports, the energy security of Japan, as well as a provider of iron ore as well, which is really important. I've been speaking with Japanese for many years, and all the companies. They're not all in resources, but no doubt most of them are, and we have a very respectful relationship. We expect they will and indeed they are participating in the design and the gas reservation scheme. We -

KIERAN GILBERT: So, the Japanese have visibility of that?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING. 100 per cent. So, do the Koreans. But also so -

KIERAN GILBERT: They won't be blindsided by just the way it's designed?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: No. We have been in constant contact with concerned embassies or interested embassies from all manner of country that invest in our gas industry, as well as, of course, the local communities in Australia that depend upon that gas. So, no-one will be blindsided. We've run - we are running a very open consultation process to make sure we get the design right because we want to honour, and we will honour those export contracts, but we also need for Australians to get access to affordable and plentiful gas.

KIERAN GILBERT: And the reservation, correct me if I'm wrong, this is post or separate to the gas contracts, isn't it?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, the idea is as those gas contracts roll off, there is a mutual commitment to provide gas into our system, and we've stated before -

KIERAN GILBERT: There's no encroachment upon the gas already committed to under those contracts?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: No, that's right, because we honour those commitments. We've never broken a contract or a shipment has never not made it to Japan in all the years we have been exporting gas to them. And the reason is for that is we are trusted and reliable, and we continue to play that role because that's important for the whole region. It's Japan and Australia are really important partners, and the NARA Treaty confirms that, and tonight's anniversary will confirm it again. But that energy security of Japan or the Republic of Korea is really important for the whole Indo-Pacific region. Because with that security comes peace and prosperity, and that's what we want for the place that we live.

KIERAN GILBERT: There was a report out this week on the future of gas as a percentage of the overall supply. It was down on previous estimates as to how much gas would be part of the mix. Does that affect your thinking on the reserve and the ability for the industry to provide for that reservation?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, gas demand does change, and we see that every single year. Gas demand changes with the weather. When it's colder, there's more gas used. When there's - as we saw in 22, an issue with coal mines and coal generators, there is more gas use, and it sets the price. So, it does change. And that's what we said in the design of this reserve, there will have to be mechanisms to allow for that fluctuation. So, we only ever have that modest oversupply of gas that causes prices to come down. And that's what we need for Australians to have access to affordable gas and enough of it for our manufacturing industry. All the while, we are also driving toward net zero by making sure we invest in community batteries, but also household batteries through the schemes of Minister Bowen, which, as everyone knows, has been taking up with great excitement around the country. And that's a really good thing.

KIERAN GILBERT: When it comes to the manufacturers, they're supportive, obviously, they're very supportive of the gas reservation. Some of the gas suppliers aren't as convinced. They think that it's not viable. But you're determined to crack on with this plan, aren't you, at that level that you said?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Yes, well, we've seen a gas reservation work really well in Western Australia. And whilst what we're doing is not exactly the same because there are many more jurisdictions on the east coast, it is similar. And that model was very unpopular, deeply unpopular, when it was introduced in 2008 by Labor Premier Alan Carpenter. And that did not happen on the east coast. But now we need for it to happen for our energy future and for stability of that export market. I think that's really important too.

KIERAN GILBERT: The Greens want a Senate inquiry questioning resources companies supporting sporting teams and Australian sport. What do you make of that from The Greens?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, it's another episode of how can The Greens kick into resources companies? Now, what I know is that resources companies sponsor sports all around the country, in cities, in towns, in regions. I mean, you can't have a gold medal without the resources industry, right? You can't have the World Cup trophy that they might give out later this month without the resources industry. But you've got, if I take Alcoa for instance, an aluminium producer supports the Harvey Bulls Football Club, little south west football club in WA and they've helped pay for their upgrades of change rooms that might not otherwise would have happened for that sponsorship. I think that's really important, and I welcome that. Rio Tinto supports athletics in the far north. You know, athletics is not the kind of thing you normally see, but it's great for the community.

KIERAN GILBERT: Gina Rinehart's backed a lot of swimmers and all sorts of sorts of sports over the years.

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Ms Rinehart has backed, I think the rowing team as well the swimming team at that Olympic level. And you'll hear those athletes say without that support they wouldn't be able to train as well and win medals whilst representing our country. So, if resources companies are willing to put their hands in their pockets to sponsor kids' sports, adult sport, upgrades to sporting facilities, then I think we should support that.

KIERAN GILBERT: Absolutely. It seems ludicrous to suggest otherwise, to be honest.

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: I don't know what they want to end, like kids’ sport in the country. It's crazy.

KIERAN GILBERT: It is not - does not make sense. Andrew Hastie's comments now just finally, One Nation supporters forcing him to upgrade his security got the neighbouring seat to him.

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Yeah.

KIERAN GILBERT: What's your reaction to that from Andrew?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Oh, look, I was appalled to hear that news. Sort of, not on behalf of Andrew, but I feel for him because that's a horrible thing to have to happen, that you've got to have security on your house because of the division that's been stoked. I think it's mainly online, but that does now start to manifest physically, and that's not the country we want where elected representatives can't access their communities as easily as they have done. So, I do have a lot of time for Andrew and sympathy for this position he is caught in. But that's the thing about One Nation. They're all about division, and they've got no answers. Our government seeks to deliver, and that's our number one priority, and tomorrow we're going to deliver tax cuts and wage increases for all Australians.

KIERAN GILBERT: Do you blame One Nation for that?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: For the division?

KIERAN GILBERT: Well, in terms of that reaction to Andrew Hastie, or is it some, some disgruntled online individuals, as opposed to the party itself?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: It's definitely disgruntled online individuals, but I think it's in some ways promoted by One Nation and indeed if it's not to Andrew Hastie or me or others directly, it's certainly indirectly across platforms. And as we've seen, it looks like and, you know, I may be corrected, that they're investing in, you know, foreign companies and foreign bots to spread this kind of division for our community. And I don't think that's good. I don't think that's a good thing. In the meantime, we'll just focus on delivery as a government.

KIERAN GILBERT: Resources Minister, Madeleine King. Thanks for your time.

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Thanks, Kieran.

KIERAN GILBERT: Appreciate it.