KATIE WOOLF: Well, and from the Opposition Leader there, Selena Uibo, we're heading straight to Parliament in Canberra where my next guest is.  The Minister for Northern Australia, Madeleine King.

Good morning to you, Minister.

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Oh, hi, Katie. How you going? Great to hear from Selena there.

KATIE WOOLF: Yeah, good to hear from you this morning, Minister. Obviously, we had a bit of a shocker on the weekend with Fina coming through. She's caused quite a bit of damage. I mean, it's - we know as well that Minister McBain here earlier in the week to announce some funding which some Territorians are going to be eligible for. How important is it from your perspective that the Federal government stands with the Northern Territory at this time?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Oh Katie, It's, you know, remarkably important that the Commonwealth government stand with the North. And we're really proud to. And I really want to, you know, do a big shout out to all Territorians and all those emergency service workers that have gone in and helped out. Now there's a cleanup after what was, you know, big tropical Cyclone Fina. And, you know, what we know is that Territorians are just so resilient. You know, you face these kind of weather patterns and these cyclones every season. And I know it's stressful and it’s hard work, and I'm really pleased, you know, my mate there, Luke Gosling, the Member for Solomon, and Marion Scrymgour, the Member for Lingiari, and along with Malarndirri McCarthy, you know, were all there, went through it. They were sending us videos to what they were witnessing during when the cyclone passed through. So, we're really pleased to support the Northern Territory for the disaster recovery.

KATIE WOOLF: Oh, absolutely. Well, and Madeleine, the conversation has now sort of turned to our underground power lines and, and you know, we just heard from Selena Uibo there saying, you know, we need to make sure our power lines are underground. A lot of Territorians questioning how we're going to afford it. I mean, is that something that the Federal government may be able to assist with somehow, I don't know?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Yes. Well, we're always up for conversations with the Territory government, as we always have been. We have and, you know, I'm happy to talk about the NAIF, the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility. So, there's potential for the NAIF to help contribute in that, low interest loans for that use. And I mean, I really understand how important underground power would be in a community that faces that, you know, cyclonic weather on a regular basis. So, you know, we're more than happy to keep talking with the Territory government with the Chief Minister and her team there. But then they, you know, that's one of the means but we can investigate that further.

KATIE WOOLF: I know your pressed for streams of funding though, given how far behind our infrastructure is to the rest of the country when it comes to, you know, those cyclones and the overhead power lines.

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, the thing is we're putting a lot of money into infrastructure in the North, obviously the Middle Arm development. And you know, just this week I announced the NAIF's now going to have a 10-year extension which means it's here to stay.

KATIE WOOLF: Yeah.

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: And that's really important for the North. We're upgrading three of the big territory airports, $100 million into Darwin Airport, Alice Springs Airport and Yulara there at Uluru. But I know you're asking about the underground power. It is, you know, that kind of infrastructure has to be driven from the government of the day up in the Territory. But there's no doubt the Federal government will always listen and see how we can help. As I said, the funding I'm responsible for is the NAIF. And the NAIF would be happy to have a chat. They always do. Craig Doyle up there. We've got staff up there. So, I've no doubt after this conversation your many listeners, someone in the government will probably give us a call straight after and that's great.

KATIE WOOLF: Madeleine, tell us on the NAIF. I mean like you touched there another 10 years. Tell me what it means for Northern Australia?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, it means that the NAIF is here to stay. It means ongoing funding from a Federal government that will inject those low interest loans into all manner of projects right across the North, but especially into the NT. So, and these are all sorts of projects. I mentioned about the airport upgrades, but there's also really important mining projects like the Arafura Rare Earth projects in Alice Springs, which, you know, that was something we spoke about with President Trump and the White House, it's that important that project and the government is really happy to help support it. But every project means, you know, more jobs for Territorians, more work for locals, better infrastructure, better educational support. And you know, one of the projects is $150 million into Darwin's education and community precinct at the Casuarina campus. So, you know, there's all manner of things NAIF do, sometimes a bit under the radar, but it really is kicking goals for the Territory.

KATIE WOOLF: And I was going to say it sort of felt like for quite a while there, you know, like it wasn't maybe moving as quickly as what people wanted or we maybe didn't have as many projects on the go as what people may have expected. But it feels like things are really getting moving now.

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Yeah, absolutely. And we've, you know, you know, kind of turbocharged the NAIF, getting that funding out and available to community groups, infrastructure groups, you know, mining companies as well. All those projects that, that need that little bit of help, that little bit of government backing to get them off the ground, to create those jobs up in the North. And we're really proud of the work they're doing. So, it's, you know, a really good thing that we're now, you know, making sure it's there to stay with that 10-year extension. It got a $2 billion extension in its funding earlier this year as we came back into government. So, you know, we backed the North. We backed the North through this, you know, disaster recovery funding like you're seeing right now, but also over the long term into these infrastructure projects, but also renewable projects, mining projects, education projects, social housing as well is something we're helping with via the NAIF. So, it's really, it's rolling along and it's a really positive story for the North and for the Northern Territory. Because Katie, as you know, strong North means a strong Australia.

KATIE WOOLF: Well, is there anywhere better to live really than Northern Australia? I think it's the best, Madeleine King.

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: It's remarkable. But you know, as I said at the start, like the resilience of the people. You're pioneers up there, you know, and I've got a lot of respect for, you know, the blood, sweat and tears that have been put into so many projects right around the North, the Northern Territory also, you know, that north part of Queensland and Western Australia. And I'm super proud of what people achieve up in the North and I'm only too pleased to back them in wherever and whenever I can.

KATIE WOOLF: Well, Madeleine King, I'll let you go. I know parliament's sitting and you're off to vote, so I appreciate you stepping out to have a quick chat with us.

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Anytime, Katie, keep in touch.

KATIE WOOLF: Thank you. Thanks so much. That is the Federal Minister there for Northern Australia, Madeleine King. Just jumping on to have a quick chat with us there about the NAIF.