Sky News Newsday with Kieran Gilbert

KIERAN GILBERT: Let’s return now to some more reaction to those extraordinary developments in the United States with Joe Biden pulling out of the presidential race. Joining me now is the Regional Development Minister, Kristy McBain. Kristy, thanks as always. Do you think that Kamala Harris in her 50’s, much younger than Biden, that she will be more competitive? Harder to beat by Donald Trump?

KRISTY MCBAIN: At the end of the day, deciding who their next President will be is something that the American people will decide in November. It’s really important that we let those democratic processes run. President Biden has been a great friend to Australia and without him we would not have seen the AUKUS deal go ahead. We thank him for his service, which has extended decades in the United States. Whomever the Democratic nominee will be, there’ll be an election in November and the American people will determine who their President will next be. Our alliance extends well past political parties or personalities, and we’ll make sure that, whomever the next President is, we will work closely with to maintain that Australia-US alliance. 

GILBERT: Do you think it’s a good thing, though – the prospect of the first female president of the United States? 

MCBAIN: Any woman around the world always likes to know that there are places they can go to be elected, that there are people that they can look up to. We saw in Australia when Julia Gillard was the first female Prime Minister, that it spurned a whole bunch of women who thought they could get there too. It is really important that we have both men and women putting themselves forward for election, even more so when it is the prospect of a first female leader in the United States – a democracy which is much older than Australia’s. 

GILBERT: You’re there in Goulburn today – chilly Goulburn. What are you picking up from constituents in Eden-Monaro about – well, I know Goulburn’s not yet in Eden-Monaro, maybe it will be soon, from memory, from the redistribution – but either way, what are constituents telling you about the things that are concerning them right now? The CFMEU scandal emerge in their discussions, or is it still all about cost of living and interest rates? 

MCBAIN: I’ve spoken to some business owners, locals, to the board and staff of a Country University Centre here today, I’m just on my way to announce over $400,000 for a locally-led recycling project, which will employ disabled people in this community. People are talking to me about the things that matter most to them. For the business owner, it was making sure that people were coming into his café, and that he had affordable options to offer them. He also said that he employs 27 people locally, who rely on him to make sure that they’ve got a job, which is incredibly important. There are over 200 people enrolled in courses in the Country University Centre here. People who are upskilling, or skilling up for the first time using that Country University Centre, a place where they can continue to live in Goulburn and not have to go somewhere else for a university education. They’re looking forward to filling in the job vacancies that are in and around this community. Tomorrow, I’ll be out in a rural community announcing half a million dollars of road upgrades thanks to our increases in Roads to Recovery for councils right across this country. On Wednesday, an Urgent Care Clinic will be opening in Queanbeyan, which is incredibly important, taking pressure off our emergency service departments. These are the things that people are talking about. The things that matter each and every day to them – health care, cost of living, and making sure that they can get jobs in their local communities. 

GILBERT: Just on that jobs question – Peter Dutton has been in Central Queensland today with Ted O’Brien, making his argument for the nuclear future – the seven plants that they’re promising - the Coalition. And he says to the people of Flynn in that seat in Central Queensland that this is about post coal jobs. Won’t that resonate with many? 

MCBAIN: Peter Dutton and Ted O’Brien have still got a lot of explaining to do. They don’t own any of those seven sites. They’ve got no plan for how they’re going to own them, or how they’re going to operate the plants, or how they’re going to get over state jurisdictions not having the legislative power to even have nuclear in them. On the flip side, we’ve got over $500 million into solar plants. More jobs happening in Liddell through solar manufacturing than they did when they were in full swing as a coal operated plant. We’ve got $20 million in our budget to make sure community consultation where renewable energy projects are rolling out is done appropriately. It’s really important that people can see what they get right now, as opposed to what they might get in 20-odd years. That includes, in this quarter, $300 off energy bills. People are after cost of living help now, which is what we’re delivering. They’re not after promises that might develop over the next 20 years. They need concrete things happening now and that’s exactly what we’re delivering. 

GILBERT: Regional Development Minister, Kristy McBain, we’ll talk to you soon. 

MCBAIN: Appreciate it. Good to be with you.