HOST JAYNIE SEAL: We're returning to one of our top stories. The Reserve Bank is poised to raise interest rates to an 18-year high today, placing more pressure on household budgets. For more, let's bring in Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain. Minister, thank you so much for joining us. A lot of people are really feeling pressure economically, whether they're mortgage holders, renters or anyone really. What can you tell them in terms of any financial relief?

MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT KRISTY MCBAIN: Morning Jaynie. It's good to be with you. Look, we know the Reserve Bank will make a decision today on interest rates and they've only got one blunt tool that they can use. People are already under pressure. We know that small businesses are under pressure and we've got to make sure that we are dealing with the things that other people are asking of us at the same time, including making sure that medicines are cheaper, that we're rolling through those tax cuts, that we're working with local communities on the issues that matter most to them. So, we'll see what the Reserve Bank decision is today and obviously we'll go into MYEFO with the same view in mind, which is to cut spending as much as possible. Since we came to government, we've cut spending by about $180 billion.

SEAL: We just saw with our senior meteorologist, Rob Sharp, the severe weather. It's that season, as you well know. The Disaster Ready Fund Round Four is in place. Tell us about it.

MCBAIN: The Disaster Ready Fund is investing about $1 billion over five years in risk reduction projects. This is Round Four. It’s really important. We announced yesterday in Port Macquarie a road which will make sure that the airport is accessible during floods. That’s critically important because a NSW ambulance base comes in and out of there. We're in Lismore today announcing more flood mitigation projects. We've announced stage two of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System, which makes sure that we've got a nationally consistent system for fire danger ratings across the country. We've done announcements in Queensland, the ACT and Victoria already, focusing on everything from cyclone and evacuation shelters to flood levees to protect the Rochester Hospital in Victoria. So, really important that we're putting money into those community projects that people are asking for so that they are more resilient come the next natural disaster.

SEAL: And we speak about roads and potholes and how it plays a vital role not only for the city areas, but a lot of people driving through regional areas. Victoria's got their election coming up, as you well know, This month, 28th November. That's been a big talking point, the roads there. I know that you're federal, but what can you tell us that's happening in Victoria?

MCBAIN: I think regardless of where you are in the country, roads are critically important to everyone. It's one of the reasons we’ve doubled our Roads to Recovery fund to $1 billion a year, so every council across the country is getting more money in that bucket and it's an automatic allocation. It goes out regardless of whose seat is what. We've increased black spot funding, we've increased a fund called the Safer Local Roads Infrastructure Program. Roads are critically important. We have to get people to and from work, to school, to events safely. And more importantly, as a large nation, we rely on transport getting our goods to different parts of the country. Roads are critically important and it doesn't surprise me that it forms part of a Victorian election campaign. We know with weather events, for example, that the life of a pavement that we thought we might get is dramatically reduced if we're in prolonged drought or we've got significant storm weather. So, I think all three levels of government have roads as a focus and it's not surprising that it's forming part of the Victorian election.

SEAL: Minister Kristy McBain, thank you so much, as always.

MCBAIN: Good to see you.