Transcript - Sky News TV, Newsday with Kieran Gilbert

KIERAN GILBERT [HOST]: Let's look at broader political debate now. I'm joined by the Regional Development Minister, Kristy McBain. Thanks for your time, as always. The nuclear policy from the Coalition, it's still the focus. I want to get to Matt Kean's appointment in a moment. But in your electorate of Eden-Monaro, what's been the reaction to it? The polling seems to say that quite a few people are open to the idea of emissions free nuclear.

KRISTY MCBAIN [MINISTER]: People are open to the idea of having a discussion about energy, but Australians are rightly tired of people like Peter Dutton saying, hey, here's a one-page media release on nuclear that doesn't address that they don't own the sites, that no company wants to build it, that there are no costs associated with it. There's been no study to say whether this can actually be plugged into the grid on those seven sites. I'm originally from the Latrobe Valley. My dad worked at Loy Yang and was made redundant when it was privatised in the early nineties. That's a community that's gone through substantial transition over the years. One who were really changing the focus of their industry and economy based on the fact that a number of coal power plants will be shutting down or have been shut down with little consultation. Now you've got seven communities that haven't been consulted, no one knows any of the detail. At the end of the day, we want to bring down our energy prices and we're doing that starting next month, with a $300 energy bill rebate. We’re not talking about something that might happen in 15-odd years.

GILBERT: Their counter to that is, and you represent a regional seat, the pushback against the transmission lines and all the infrastructure needed for renewable assets. Is this something you're picking up from your constituents? Concerns around that?

MCBAIN: We see that all the time, and we want to make sure that renewable energy companies consult with our communities. It's why there was $20 million in this last budget, to make sure that there were standard ratings for developers, because we know some developers do it really well and others need to pick up their game. The point is, people want to know what's happening next month with their energy bill next quarter. This is just a fantasy, which is 15 years away. If they were so wedded to this policy idea, why did they do nothing about it in nine years in government. It is just ridiculous to suggest that they don't have to provide detail to the Australian people, particularly in those communities who are going to be directly impacted.

GILBERT: The former Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce called it treacherous from Matt Kean to take this appointment from Prime Minister Albanese today. Is the Coalition now the focus of a wedge from the government? Is the government trying to wedge the Coalition on this issue rather than trying to bring people together on it?

MCBAIN: We know the view of Barnaby on this, and there'll probably be others who have his view on things - that's a political lens. People out there don't care who are in these roles. They want someone passionate about getting the energy transition right, knowing that we've got to get the engineering and the economics right for any transition. Matt Kean is obviously someone who's well researched, has been working in the field for a long period of time now, both as an Energy and Environment Minister, and as a Treasurer of NSW. It’s a good appointment, but we shouldn't be looking…

GILBERT: Makes it a bit awkward for the Coalition, though.

MCBAIN: It would make it awkward for them, but we shouldn't be looking at everything with a political lens like this. He’s someone with significant expertise, someone who's passionate about that energy transition. It's a good appointment.

GILBERT: The Supermarket Code of Conduct. It's being made mandatory. One of the things that I noticed in the recommendations that I thought was really interesting, the ability for suppliers to take concerns to the ACCC anonymously, because there has been the fear of reprisals. There have been very little complaints because people don't want to be struck off the suppliers list. But now that's going to change.

MCBAIN: It’s one of the best recommendations. I've heard from many suppliers myself that they would like to make a complaint about some of the treatment, but have felt that if they did so, they might not end up being able to continue to supply to the big supermarkets. Having a mandatory Code of Conduct is a great first step. Making sure that we are working with the ACCC on their review and bringing those complaints through to them is incredibly important. It's taken an Albanese Government to make sure that it is mandatory, because we've heard from farmers that there needs to be more done with this.

GILBERT: And you know from your own constituents that the number one issue remains. Number one, two and three. It's all cost of living, people are hurting and so you need to get the focus back in that space, don't you, ahead of the electoral season?

MCBAIN: Absolutely, and it has been a big focus. We've heard from constituents that prices have gone up at the supermarket, but we know from our farmers that they're not getting a better price for their produce. This is another step in that direction to make sure that we can hold those to account who we have to visit on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

GILBERT: Kristy McBain, thanks as always.

MCBAIN: Thank you.