The Hon Madeleine King MP
Doorstop, Darwin
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Thanks for coming along today, just to ‑ it is wonderful for me as Minister for Northern Australia and the Minister for Resources to be back here in Darwin, at the Top End, for the NT Resources Week. What the Anthony Albanese Government knows is we want to support the economic development of the Northern Territory. It is of vital importance to the whole country. A strong Territory means a strong Australia. And that's why we are progressing a number of projects to the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, and we are also reviewing the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility to make sure it remains fit for purpose in the very long term. We are adding another $2 billion into the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility as well to make sure we can keep going with all those projects we know is going to make the Northern Territory strong and of course the whole of the northern Australia strong.
Very importantly, I have met with the new Chief Minister, Lia Finocchiaro, and last week in Broome the Northern Australia Ministerial Forum I met with Gerard Maley. And I want to thank them for their time so close after the election in engaging with the Federal Government and with me as Minister for Northern Australia and Minister For Resources in driving the economic development of the NT. I am very happy to take questions.
JOURNALIST: You mentioned in your speech that we are going to need more mining and more people in that sector going forward not just in the Northern Territory but the rest of the country. [Indistinct] they certainly welcome you to [indistinct] what do you say to that?
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: We will need more mining, not less, if we are to reach net zero. Because what we know is that the ore that we mine it contains the critical minerals, the rare earths elements that will be needed in all the renewable technology that we need to decarbonise, which is I think what the protestors want to talk about. So to have solar panels, wind turbines, hydrogen tech you are going to need some of the things that we extract in this country, but not just for this country, it is for the world to decarbonise. Everybody needs what we have, and we need to make sure that we mine, extract and refine those products ethically and sustainably and safely, and also bear in mind to the heritage of our First Nations people right around the country.
JOURNALIST: You just mentioned hydrogen, solar and wind, I'm just wondering how fracking helps create any of those projects in the Territory or anywhere?
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Are you speaking about the gas extraction from onshore fields?
JOURNALIST: Yes.
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well of course gas is also needed into the future. Gas supports renewable energy, it firms up renewable power. So right across the country it does that today and it will continue to do so for a very long time. So the extraction of gas is very important for affordable energy in this country, right across the country, and it is also very important for the future needs of the NT economy as well. Added to that, it is important for regional prosperity because we know that energy security is the basis of regional stability. And that's something we also want.
JOURNALIST: Why are we are having another review - sorry why are we having another review [indistinct] fracking in the Northern Territory?
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: The review that the [indistinct] government did was a very fulsome and a very highly respected scientific review. It made over 100 recommendations and I know consecutive governments have all supported those [indistinct]. The more recent review I think you are referring is Minister Plibersek's independent expert scientific committee. That is a federal overlay, if you like, but a very important one that will reassure people. It will do what it has to do and find out if the water is indeed an issue in relation to the extraction of gas from the Beetaloo. But what is important to know is there are no actual approvals before the Minister at the moment. This is a long‑term project, Beetaloo, but it only goes ahead if it does meet that approval process.
JOURNALIST: [Indistinct] alternative for offshore gas extraction provided to the traditional owners requiring to be consulted in that. Are those also [indistinct].
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: I'm very determined to make the consultation requirements around offshore gas more clear for everyone. In particular, First Nations people. But also the proponents. The proponents know who they have to speak to, that they have so speak to people and they do it properly. And that makes it easier for First Nations people. That was the intent behind those laws. Unfortunately, for First Nations people the Greens political party hijacked that and made sure it didn’t happen. And that is because the Greens political party really just want further uncertainty for First Nations people in their consultation with proponents of energy projects, and I think that's a disgrace and I hope they reconsider. In the meantime, me and my department will continue to work with how we can make that consultation even better and we will judge the right time of that. [Indistinct] I think that's the right thing to do for our First Nations people.
JOURNALIST: [Indistinct] you just referred to this idea of the Beetaloo Basin [indistinct] do we know, A; when the IS will actually come back with a definitive call, and secondly, if it is indeed that it does need to be subject to the water treatment, does that mean that Tamboran's exploration wells will have to cease, and how long might we be waiting again for another decision on this one scrutinised by [indistinct].
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: It is good to point out. It is a very heavily scrutinised project. And I think the gas industry understands for social licence that support of such projects, scrutiny is really important. It is an important federal piece of work, that is that independent expert and I must point out scientific committee that will look into, you know, the science behind that extraction. It is not the water treatment ‑
JOURNALIST: [Indistinct] if you come back to the recommendations [indistinct].
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Of course. So what I'm saying is the bill right now, that is on hold. It is not going to a particular item such as the water treatment. So ‑ but those independent committees, just like the [indistinct] has to be allowed to do their work and that is what they will do. But I don't ‑ I don't want to foreshadow results of ‑ well, any committees. Definite [indistinct]
JOURNALIST: [Indistinct] ERA about consultation [indistinct] decision or not reviewing the [indistinct] meet with you and Peter Garrett [indistinct].
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: That matter is before the courts, and it will be wholly inappropriate for me to comment.
JOURNALIST: Just on the [indistinct] extraction with the review [indistinct] onshore development has been [indistinct]. Extremely important [indistinct]
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: And indeed gas is an important traditional fuel, but I would just add that the Middle Arm Industrial Precinct Development and the Government support for that is not conditional on other projects such as the Beetaloo. Darwin is the only comparable city in this country without a major mixed use industrial precinct. That's not right. That has to change, and the Federal Albanese Labor Government will support ‑ support the former NT Government, will support the current NT Government, will support Middle Arm because we know it is needed for this Territory. It is needed for Darwin, it will open up investment. It also goes to a number of projects in renewables, potentially CCS, also hydrogen development. It is a big project, and it is, quite frankly, the least the Territory can do.
JOURNALIST: Minister, you had a whack at the Greens earlier [indistinct] A lot of people in the Territory who are First Nations, might also say the consultation document is a sham process [indistinct] mining companies and there will be government [indistinct] divide [indistinct] locals to get their projects approved. [Indistinct] is it not the case that they are just asking for something that is actually a bit more robust in terms of proper teeth behind it?
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, I mean that's what I am trying to do, is to have a consultation regime where everyone knows what they are obliged to [indistinct] consultation. But if we have, you know, we also know of a particular case where the [indistinct] objected to it also acted improperly and the Federal Court has called that out. So they are the ones that are seeking to divide First Nations, was a big part of that. [Indistinct] unacceptable. The mining or gas proponents [indistinct] and the [indistinct]. So why lawyers for the EDO think that it is appropriate is beyond me. Of course it is not and the Federal Court has called that out. And I note the EDO has looked into those processes to make sure it doesn't happen again. As well they should.
JOURNALIST: The EDO, the new Government in the Northern Territory announced funding [indistinct].
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: I'm not looking into that. But, you know, that is a matter for the federal ‑ sorry, the Territory Government. [Indistinct]
JOURNALIST: Generally speaking on these legal challenges, are they almost becoming vexatious? I know particularly in the last hour or so Tamboran won a case against the central environment group. It kind of seems like.. indistinct], Iss it becoming too tedious (inaudible).
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: I'm not going to seek to shortcut access to the courts. I think you [indistinct. Judges will decide whether things are vexatious or not. [Indistinct] you know, whatever cases they wish. I think it is better to avoid going to the courts. It takes a lot of money, it takes up a lot of resources. But equally I wouldn't object to [indistinct]. And that's why having consultation requirements that set out the guardrails and the expectations are really important for everyone. Importantly First Nations people, importantly those concerned, and everyone is concerned about the environment, but also the proponents [indistinct]. And that's the agreement. [Indistinct].
JOURNALIST: Just finally, on the Beetaloo and the water trigger.. [ indistinct] what did you do to [indistinct] factor [indistinct] does that mean exploration for Darwin [indistinct] kind of also [indistinct]?
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Look, I imagine if ‑ and this is just not my portfolio, I'm not an expert in water. But what I know is the exploration [indistinct] happening right now and work as it has started will continue while that expected activity [indistinct]. What happens after that is another matter entirely. So I'm happy to [indistinct] I don't want to take [indistinct] sorry.
JOURNALIST: You mentioned in your speech that there was a lot of misinformation about Middle Arm including in Federal Parliament. Were you referring to the Senate inquiry when you [indistinct].
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Not in particular. I think sometimes there is a misinformation as to what it is, what it will support. and support some, you know, excellent projects that [indistinct] the economy and jobs. I think it is unhelpful when people in Parliament use the word "petrochemicals" like it is a dirty word, when we know that petrochemicals form the basis of our modern world. Microphones, you name it, laptops, phones, they all have an element of chemical processing and that's really important for the modern world. So I think ‑ medicine, anything, you name it. Petrochemicals. We might not like that, but that's a fact. So I think a dose of reality on what we use and consume in this world will be helpful. In the Federal Parliament, everyone else as well.
Okay. All good. Thank you.