EVAN WALLACE, HOST ABC NORTHERN TASMANIA: Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Catherine King has been in the northern half of the state today, and I caught up with her before she took off from Burnie Airport, Catherine King, good afternoon.

CATHERINE KING, MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Good afternoon. It's really lovely to be with you.

WALLACE: I'll get to today's announcements in a tick, but before I do, you were in George Town today. What's your response to the memorandum of understanding between GFG Alliance and Steel International Trading Company, with the Georgian company set to operate the smelter for the next five years?

KING: Well, I understand the company has put a statement out today. We can't really comment on the specifics of the MOU, we're obviously not a party to that. We've consistently, and the Minister Tim Ayres has consistently, urged the GFG alliance to step up and give certainty to workers and the community by investing in the ongoing operations of the facility. We will continue to work with the Tasmanian Government and affected businesses and unions, and really it's up to the company now to explain how it's intending to put Liberty Bell Bay onto a secure footing. It's too important for the workers, and the community really do need that certainty.

WALLACE: Do you think this MOU will bring the stability to the manganese smelter that everyone's been calling out for?

KING: Again, it's difficult for us to comment on an MOU that we don't know the details of. We're not party to that agreement or that MOU. And again, we've consistently said, it's up to GFG to really put this important facility onto a sustainable footing, and it's up for it to now explain if this does so and how that does so.

WALLACE: Now it wasn't the smelter that took you to George Town earlier today, but the announcement that construction has started on the indoor Aquatic Centre. A lot of community members, though, they're devastated to be losing their outdoor pool. What's your message to them?

KING: Look, these are always hard. Swimming pools, particularly older ones that have had a lot of history in the community, were probably hard fought for when they first started. It's always difficult when they come to the end of their life, and really, that's what's happened in these circumstances. It's no longer fit for purpose, it's going to cost a lot of money to repair. So what we did back in the 2022 election, we made a commitment of $15 million, we've now had the state government put in $2.5 million to actually bring what is a couple of really great facilities; a 25 meter warm indoor pool, plus a smaller pool that is accessible, particularly for older people. And the thing that really impressed me when I was thinking about putting the funding into this project, alongside Jess Teesdale the new Member for Bass, is really this is about accessibility. It's about aging well in place. It's about young kids learning to swim, all year round. And it's also about people who have disabilities being able to access swimming all year round in those winter months when you may not necessarily be able to get outdoors to exercise. I know that Georgetown really does need lots of facilities, we really want to make sure that this is a state of the art facility, and that's what we're building with the $17.5 million. Again, an all year round facility. If there's further stages to it, I'm sure the council will put that to us through our various grants programs, but at the moment, we're building that first bit.

WALLACE: Let's come to that, the Mayor Greg Keiser has said that he'll make the case for an outdoor pool at this new centre, is there actually space for that to happen Catherine King?

KING: So I understand that, from when I was looking at the plans this morning, there's certainly still space for a further outdoor pool, a splash park and other facilities outdoors. But at this stage, the funding for stage one really is for the warm, 25 meter pool and smaller pool that you can do aqua aerobics in and other great things, it's got a ramp that goes in that's really fully accessible. So really, what this is about is building that facility. It can also has a gym area, as well as allied health spaces, so you can have physiotherapy or exercise physiologists on site who might lease that space, who then can provide a much more comprehensive service than just a summer swimming pool – which is important, I know that communities love those as well, but you'll still have a pool that you can use.

WALLACE: You're listening to ABC Northern Tasmania Drive, I'm speaking with Federal Infrastructure. Minister, Catherine King. Hope that your afternoon is going well, and you're welcome to join in the conversation on 0467 922 917. Catherine King, you were also in Burnie today at the cultural precinct, what was happening there?

KING: Well, an amazing project to really see urban renewal of. It's really not just about a cultural precinct. There was a previous stage, $5 million put into refurbishing it, but really the additional $13 million that the Albanese Government has put in has really seen the art gallery opened up, a new foyer, really just a new performance space. And it was just terrific to see the lovely young people showing some of their talents there, but the community are really saying this is a precinct that will have, not just art events, but also be able to host a whole range of other community events. It was great to meet the new cafe owners out there, Fleur, I understand they're much loved, they've got a little blue van that goes around, and they're going to the cafe out there, so I look forward to being able to go back there one day and have lunch with them. But again, a really great use of community infrastructure funding, and Mayor Brumby was pretty excited to see that facility opened as well.

WALLACE: And finally, before I let you go, Catherine King, it is AusMusic Monday on the ABC, and today we've been asking the question, what was the first Australian single or album that you bought with your own money? Maybe it was pocket money. Maybe it was from a job that you were working. Do you remember what it was for you?

KING: I can't remember. I know it was certainly, I reckon it was one of the Australian crawl albums. I'm not going to remember the name of the album, but I think it was an Australian crawl album, either that or it might have been Hunters and Collectors as well. But it's those two that I had back in my, I'm a little older now, back in my Australian music days. But we got an incredible opportunity in Parliament this week, Missy Higgins came into the garden area of Parliament House and performed Scar and it was absolutely beautiful, echoing through the gardens. A moment's peace, just before question time, so Aus Music Month, listen to Australian music as much as you can.

WALLACE: That's a great plug. Catherine King, thanks so much for chatting today on Northern TAS drive.

KING: Delightful to be with you. Thank you for having me.