Sky News Regional Breakfast

ORTENZIA BORRE: The Regional Aviation Association of Australia is asking the government to consider regional airline operators during the sale process. Regional airlines, which are competitors to Rex, including Sharp Airlines, are concerned about the proposal where the government purchases Rex. Regional Aviation Association Chief Executive, Rob Walker says Rex has competition on 21 of its 46 routes, claiming the number of operators will reduce further if the government is subsidising the airline. And joining me live now on this and more is Regional Development Minister, Kristy McBain. Kristy, thank you for your time this morning. Now, do you share the same concern about the government stepping in to purchase the airline as the regional aviation Association does? 

KRISTY MCBAIN: What is really important is you've got a government that backs regional aviation. What we've said from day one is that we want to see the administration process go through in its entirety. What we want to see is a private buyer come through. We've made sure that there are incentives in place for that to take place, including the fact that the use it or lose it process for Sydney airport slots doesn't automatically go into recession. We've extended that out to 2026. Those are the things that are important to buyers. What we've said is we would be a buyer of last resort. We're not stepping in now. We're not substituting the administration process. It's still got a way to run, and the administrator is keen to work with the private market on it. 

BORRE: Now, ASIO boss Mike Burgess has revealed there have been multiple attempts by foreign countries to harm Australians, and that the rest of the decade could be even more dangerous. So what does the Albanese Government need to do now before the election to ensure our safety? 

MCBAIN: What we say consistently is that we have confidence in our security and intelligence agencies. They do a fabulous job. As Mike Burgess has outlined, they're doing this all whilst keeping Australians safe. Once a year he gives a speech about the things that are happening across our nation and across the world. Without that, Australians would be none the wiser that these things are taking place in the background. We continue to provide all the resources that our security and intelligence agencies need to do their job and keep Australians safe. What we want to make really clear is that we consider it a form of abuse for anyone to harass us, and we continually monitoring this. Harassment of Australians, individuals or businesses is not on. We have full faith that our security agencies will take the appropriate steps they need to. 

BORRE: Now you're in Goulburn today as part of the $100 million Community Energy Upgrades Fund. Today, $50 million will be delivered to about 58 local governments in grants for energy upgrades. Talk us through this initiative and how it's going to benefit Australians. 

MCBAIN: The Community Energy Upgrade Fund is something that councils have been calling for across the country. They want some help to lower the fixed costs that they have, which in turn helps lower rates for individuals across the country. We've supported councils from Geelong in Victoria to Aurukun in Queensland, to the Shire of Flinders Ranges in South Australia. Projects like making community pools fully electric, making sure that there are solar panels and batteries on community libraries, fast car charging stations across our communities to encourage more people to come and visit, or to be able to use electric cars within our community. A really important fund, delivering some cost savings for councils across the country. Round two will be open very soon and we encourage councils to continue to put forward their projects and apply to this fund. 

BORRE: Kristy McBain, always a pleasure. Thank you for your time this morning. 

MCBAIN: Good to be with you.