JAMES GLENDAY: Let's bring in the Resources Minister, Madeleine King, who joins us now. Minister, welcome back to the program.

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Good morning, it's great to be here.

JAMES GLENDAY: Have you got the screwdriver out, have you been taking off the roof racks, have you been lessening the load in the back of your car?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Look, I think it's a very prudent reminder for people, especially after Easter holidays, when you might have been away, that you can now take the roof rack off as we go into winter. The swell's actually come up in the surf right around the country, so you might be tempted to leave them on. But if you're not going to use the roof racks, get rid of them, or you know, I mean I see a lot of people driving around in my electorate, and they still might have those travel boxes on their roof, and it does create a lot of drag. So save yourself some money, and get rid of them.

JAMES GLENDAY: Did the taxpayer need to spend $20 million really telling people to take public transport as a fuel-saving option? I mean it just sort of seems like a statement of the bleeding obvious.

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, I think it's important that governments do work in a positive fashion to remind people of how they might change their behaviours in certain respects, when we are going through an international crisis in the Middle East which has ripple effects in this country. It's not a conflict we're a part of, yet we will always feel, you know, some of those effects from it, and if it means that people should be or need to be reminded that they can each take steps, well, I think that's fine. And I mean I know from my own experience, sometimes you might forget to take your roof racks off or make those little savings. And it's different in different parts of the country too, around public transport, and so forth. For some it's easier than others. So this is about doing what you can, one, to save money yourself on fuel costs, but also contributing to the national effort to make sure we see this through in a strong position.

JAMES GLENDAY: Let's get to the Middle East. Donald Trump's now talking about blockading the Strait of Hormuz. Do you think it's a good idea?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, it's really regrettable that negotiations did break down yesterday and the Australian Government hopes that both parties go back to the negotiating table. That is really what we would like to see, de-escalation is a very important matter to aim for to end this conflict. So I just want to be really clear on that aspect of this. As for the Strait of Hormuz, any kind of suggestion that there could be permanent tolling of this waterway is clearly an unsustainable prospect not only for Australia but for the rest of global trade. So as a country that depends on trade, and we depend on the freedom of navigation, you know, we support keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to that trade, that's, you know, obviously for the benefit of Australia, but also for global trade.

JAMES GLENDAY: Sure. The President also spoke about other countries coming to help, and he said that he expected other countries to help. It's not exactly clear who he's talking about. Is Australia one of those countries that's going to help keep this Strait open?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, we're yet to see how the US intends to run this blockade, and to be honest we really hope that the whole conflict de-escalates, and that's what we're putting our effort into. And also we're putting our effort into making sure we have those alternate supply chains that get fuel to this country to make sure our industries can keep running and uphold the economy, but also that everyday Australians can keep the fuel that they need to keep doing what they do, getting to work and so forth.

JAMES GLENDAY: Yeah, and the Prime Minister's heading around the region to try to shore up that supply at the moment. Just finally, there's this report this morning in The Australian newspaper, that the Iranian Spy Chief was given a tourism visa to come to Australia in 2022. Were you surprised to learn that? Are these the sorts of visits that happen from time to time?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, I read that report myself this morning, but what I can say to you and all your viewers is that this Government has done more than any other government to expel the Iranian regime in this country. We have banned the IRGC, we have, you know, removed the Ambassador from Iran to this country following the two attacks that were played upon these shores. So we'll obviously be looking into the reports today, but what I can clearly say is that no government has done more to ensure that the Iranian regime plays no part in this country.

JAMES GLENDAY: Minister, thanks for joining our program this morning.

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: It's a pleasure.