Transcript - radio interview - Triple M Hobart, Breakfast with Andy Taylor and Esther Nicols

E&OE

ANDY TAYLOR [CO-HOST]:  We are now joined by Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King MP. Good morning, Minister.

CATHERINE KING [MINISTER]: Good morning. Catherine's fine.

ANDY TAYLOR: Thank you, Catherine. That is very kind of you. We have issues in Tasmania with healthcare, education, housing and cost of living crises. You've just been down to Tasmania to announce a $240 million investment into the Macquarie Point Stadium. Is this the right thing and right priority for Tasmanians?

CATHERINE KING: Well, I just want to comment on the health and housing issues first. There are significant investments going into healthcare in Tasmania. It's really important that we do so. We announced through National Cabinet on Friday an additional $2 billion going into housing. And we've got a housing and affordability fund sitting in the Senate at the moment that we want to build more social and affordable housing. It is really critical that we deal with those issues, but also we want to be able to continue urban development. And you've got this incredible opportunity at Mac Point where we can build social and affordable housing, good transport networks and economic enhancement through the stadium. And that's what we've announced. So, the 240 is conditional on it being an actual urban precinct and that includes social and affordable housing.

ANDY TAYLOR: Well, that's good news.

ESTHER NICOLS [CO-HOST]: Minister. I want to talk to you about, like, just this morning and today, isn't anything out of the ordinary, but 78 bus cancellations already. Regular 13 minute drive from Kingston earlier, which normally takes 13 minutes, as I said, was taking over 40 minutes. What is the current transport plan for Tasmania in regards to the stadium?

CATHERINE KING: Well, in terms of that, again, one of the things the Tasmanian government has committed to do is to look at those transport connections. So, we worked pretty hard with them. We didn't want to just hand over the money for a stadium. We said, this is about an urban development precinct and that includes transport connections. We're building Bridgewater Bridge at the moment. That's an incredibly important project. But we've also got to fix some of the urban congestion problems as well. And part of this money for the stadium has to also look at transport connections.

ESTHER NICOLS : Is it realistic, do you think, that the Premier said that we'll turn soil next year?

CATHERINE KING: Well, that's a matter for the Premier. They will let contracts and do tenders and do the build. What we're expecting is that they will come back to us with a new plan for the entire precinct, which includes the stadium, which includes transport connections and includes social and affordable housing. That was critical to getting us over the line to put money into this project.

ANDY TAYLOR: Is there money still in the budget for ferries on the Derwent?

CATHERINE KING: Yeah, absolutely. It's one of my favourite projects across the nation. I was really pleased to make that commitment during the election and so that'll be happening. I'm going to come down soon and do the sod turn on the Hobart Airport, the $60 million we committed there as well. This is really about trying to make sure you've got a great opportunity for jobs, not just in construction, but all of that comes along that the airport redevelopment development is about freight and about getting your fantastic goods and produce out to international markets. It's also why we wanted to focus on the stadium over in Launceston as well, trying to do that last piece of the puzzle for the urban redesign that all of you know, bringing a university, having new libraries, new connections in Launceston. York Park, the $65 mil we've put into that was also part of that urban proceed.

ANDY TAYLOR: Given that you've committed $240 million to the stadium at Macquarie Point, the Tasmanian government have committed $375 million to that. And a little top up from the AFL as well, Catherine. Who will be paying for the cost blowouts as this project potentially goes over budget?

CATHERINE KING: Well, again, they need to be managed by the Tasmanian Government. We've committed a $240 million capped amount to the precinct and again that will be up to the state government. They're pretty confident on these figures. They'll redo some of those, but really that's going to be a matter for them to manage it within the budget they've got.

ANDY TAYLOR: Well, that's an answer that we couldn't get from the Premier. Catherine King, Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development. We thank you for joining us on Triple M Breakfast.

CATHERINE KING: It's good. Looking forward to coming and watching the footy with Tassie's own team. Let's hope the AFL comes to the party and makes that announcement shortly.

ANDY TAYLOR: It's a rubber stamp. In my opinion.