Transcript - TV interview - Sky News, Breakfast with Jaynie Seal

JAYNIE SEAL [HOST]: Applications are now open for ten new Regional University Study Hubs situated around the country, set to provide more students from the bush access to tertiary education. Joining me live is Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain. Thank you very much Minister, for joining us. Hope you're well today. Tell us how much money has been put into this development.

KRISTY MCBAIN [MINISTER]: Good morning Jaynie, great to be with you. $66.9 million. Going into these regional study hubs, we've got currently 34 around the country. We're going to add to that. Another 20 across regional Australia and another 14 across outer suburbs. It's so incredibly important that we do this. We know that sometimes our postcodes are a barrier and a brick wall to accessing further education. I think nationally, one in two young people have a university degree, but that number slips back to less than one in four in our region. It’s really important that we are providing those opportunities right across regional Australia to allow people to study, to upskill, to reskill, to prepare for the transition that we are seeing in our energy sector, preparing for bringing back advanced manufacturing to this country because we want a future made in Australia. It’s incredibly exciting that those expressions of interest will open today and close mid-December.

SEAL: All right, and as we know that there are so many people from the city places wanting to move to regions, there's been numerous studies, as you well know. So, one of the issues was the lack of availability for universities. So, this is no doubt very exciting news for many people.

MCBAIN: Absolutely. We know there has been a shift to regional areas during COVID and post COVID. People love the lifestyle that we have access to. As I said, some of those barriers that sometimes come with that lifestyle is access to education and services. This is really addressing one of those and dealing with one of the recommendations from the Interim University Accord Report. My colleague, Minister Clare is getting on with the job very quickly in getting this round of funding open and hopefully announcements starting in early next year.

SEAL: All right well let's turn to a different topic, Minister, and the severe weather season is certainly going to be official as of Sunday. Our meteorologists have been giving us a lot of comprehensive information and looking at a dangerous season and saying that there is an increased potential of heat waves. We've got El Nino and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole, increased chance of bushfires and above average temperatures. We know that there is a lot of increased shrub around from the previous last few years with the rain and unfortunately not looking good in terms of potential fires. And speaking to a lot of people as well in a story that we have here this morning. Mallacoota, for example, saying that there are only six operational Country Fire Authority firefighters. They're calling for more volunteers not only in Mallacoota, but across the board, would you say?

MCBAIN: Absolutely, Jaynie. Anyone that's lived through the Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020 will be at a heightened risk. Where I am, 20 schools were closed only last week because of the catastrophic bushfire danger that we had. Mallacoota is only just over an hour from here and I know remote communities like that will absolutely be feeling the pinch. We've got fantastic volunteer resources in our RFS and in our CFA, but we do rely on volunteers for so much of this country when we're in a natural disaster. If anyone is going to join or thinking about joining, please make contact with your local CFA or RFS. It's incredibly important that we work together as a community when we know we are dealing with conditions that are going to be challenging this summer. To that end, the Albanese Government is getting on and dealing with those recommendations that are in the Bushfire Royal Commission. We have added more large air tankers for aerial firefighting, which we know is incredibly important. We've got a national situation room so that we can bring all the agencies together when we do have those catastrophic conditions. We've already started building up our national emergency stockpile, which includes things like emergency shelter, electricity, generators, food and water, so that we can get those out to where they need to be during a disaster. We've co-invested nearly $100 million with states and territories on bushfire preparedness and mitigation, because we know how important it is to be working with local communities in the lead up to this season. We're doing our bit. Obviously, we would love to see more work being done, but the conditions that we've had this year have meant that we haven't been able to get to a lot of that backburning that people want to see happening in their communities.

SEAL: Yeah, well said. And one of the standouts that I've noticed that you just said, Minister, is about people working together. We've got to wrap it up. But I did want to quickly ask you about Fit For Office, which I had the Honourable Dr Andrew Leigh on the weekend talking about it. I know yourself and a lot of Ministers and people in Parliament are really getting together and exercising and the importance of exercise and getting together. So, just quickly, is it going well?

MCBAIN: It's incredibly important for people who have office jobs or spend a lot of the time travelling, which we do, to get out and exercise. It's great for your mental health and it's great for your physical health. Unlike Andrew Leigh, I probably won't be running 100k marathons, which he does on a whim on a weekend. It’s been really pleasing to see so many parliamentarians get into this initiative. Unlike David Pocock, I won't be lifting plenty of weights, but I'll be having a crack, as will my team, because it is incredibly important to make sure that we're looking after our physical and mental health.

SEAL: Yeah, well said. And, yeah, they're very elite athletes. But as the CEO who's setting it up, he did say that it's not about competition, it's not about shaming and naming and all of that. It's about every little bit helps. And, of course, the big NRL and the AFL Grand Finals are on this weekend, so sellout crowds. It's really great to see so many people get together. I know the Victorians have got that public holiday tomorrow and certainly a big weekend for everyone.

MCBAIN: We say it's not a competition, but everything's a competition in my mind. Very exciting weekend ahead. Coincides with my birthday weekend. So, very excited. It'll be a really interesting game on Saturday. Chris Fagan's done a great job with the Brisbane Lions. They've been there for the last couple of years. But Darcy Moore's really got the Pies flying, especially with Nick Daicos, only his second season, and he is an absolute gun. The Pies are going to win and I know that my granddad, who's up there, will be really barracking loudly for them. He's a one-eyed Pie supporter. The Broncos only a few years ago weren't even close to the finals, so that's been a great turnaround. The dynasty at the Panthers is going to be too strong to deny and they'll end up with a three peat. But then again, Jaynie, last week I gave you two tips and put the moz on both teams, so who knows?

SEAL: Well, who knows? But as you said, it's a good competition and it's your so very, very happy birthday. We'll talk to you again next week and see how your tips go hey. Minister for Regional development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain. Thank you.

MCBAIN: Have a great day.