Transcript - Interview with Sky News Regional Breakfast with Jaynie Seal

JAYNIE SEAL: The Albanese Government has announced $45 million for regional road safety upgrades. Joining me live is Minister for Regional Development, Kristy McBain in South Australia. Good morning to you, Minister. So, talk us through the announcement.

KRISTY MCBAIN: Good morning, Jaynie. A fabulous announcement. $45 million in road safety upgrades going to bridge renewal and rest stops for trucks. Really important things that we need to make sure are fit and available for our communities. I was in Whyalla and Port Augusta yesterday and spoke with the District Council of Mount Remarkable, where $3.2 million was going to the upgrade of two bridges, from single-lane structures to double-lane concrete structures. Also strengthening those bridges, which will allow produce, in particular barley, to get from farms to the market in Australia, but also to the export market. It’s incredibly important because so many people don’t think about the need to make sure that our productivity is enhanced by better transport routes. These two bridges in South Australia alone will allow the flow of trucks more easily from the farm to the market.

SEAL: What are the locals saying about this?

MCBAIN: It’s long overdue. For many of those locals, they’re very happy with the announcement. The Mayor and CEO yesterday were really happy. $3.2 million going to that rural council to make sure that their bridge network was upgraded, two important bridge connections. It’s really great, and these dollars have been spent from Gladstone in Queensland to Mount Remarkable Council, all the way over to Port Hedland in WA. Lots of areas covered across regional Australia with these announcements. Just another important way that we’re helping our farmers get produce to the market. It’s on top of our increases to road Black Spot funding and also doubling Roads to Recovery, because we know how important it is for every local council to have safe roads to drive on.

SEAL: Yeah, absolutely. And in conditions like today, especially across parts of Queensland and NSW, heading down to the southeast towards the weekend, we’ve got severe weather warnings, damaging winds, very, very heavy rainfall. Regardless of whether the rain’s falling or not, as you mentioned, there’s some dangerous roads and so many people out and about on them. What is your message for today, Minister, regarding people who are experiencing the severe weather?

MCBAIN: Today is likely to create some conditions that mean it will be difficult to drive on our roads with really heavy dumps of rain and also potential flooding across parts of the road network. Please be careful on the roads. Listen to the advice. If it’s flooded, forget it. We know that cars can float in as little as 10 centimetres of water. It’s really important that we are listening to those warnings. The SES do a magnificent job, but if you can avoid being on the road during times of heavy rain, please do so, because their job is a really important one and we don’t want them having to risk their lives to save people from flooded causeways.

SEAL: Yeah, well said. And certainly our meteorologist is forecasting really strong to gale force winds as we head into this afternoon along particularly the southern coast of New South Wales, around where your electorate is and certainly you know the area well. Again, what message would you say for the dangerous conditions there? Certainly, it’s hazardous surf conditions as we head into Friday afternoon and potentially Saturday as well.

MCBAIN: We also know it’s Victorian school holidays at the moment, so there are a lot of holidaymakers, particularly on the east coast of Australia. If it’s not your usual beach or estuary, please take extra care. There will be conditions that you’re not used to. It is really important to heed those warnings. Really double think whether you’re going to do anything by the ocean or in a lake today, because of those gale force winds and the rain that is forecast. It is really important that you understand the local context that you’re in as well.

SEAL: Yes, absolutely. And before we let you go, of course, the May budget is not too far away. A lot of focus on cost of living. What can you tell our viewers in terms of what the Albanese Government is looking at, at this stage?

MCBAIN: Cost of living has obviously been a focus since we recalled Parliament in December 2022 to put a cap on coal and gas prices. We’ve seen those electricity bill rebates flowing through now. $500 for those people on low and fixed incomes and $650 rebates to small businesses across the country. Small businesses really are the backbone of regional Australia, with 97 per cent of businesses in regional Australia being small businesses. It’s really important we continue the focus on how we can help families and small businesses with cost of living. That that will be a focus for the Prime Minister and also the Treasurer. In my part of the world, we had Energy Efficiency Upgrade grants not long ago. Pete’s Swim School there in Queanbeyan, which now has over 500 enrolments, upgraded a pump to an electric heat pump. A big shout out to Pete’s Swim School and the work that they do, making sure that kids learn to swim to stay safe in the water. They’ve been the beneficiary of that Electricity Energy Efficiency grant. Round two has been out, is now closed and I look forward to more small businesses being able to make their businesses more energy efficient.

SEAL: All right. Hard to believe that May is not too far away, but great to see you, as always, and we’ll talk to you again soon. Thank you very much, Minister Kristy McBain.