EMMA REBELLATO, HOST: Look, let's get more now on the bailout for the Mount Isa smelter in Queensland. The Federal Industry Minister, Senator Tim Ayres joins us now. Thank you so much for joining us.
SENATOR TIM AYRES, MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY AND INNOVATION AND MINISTER FOR SCIENCE: G' day Emma. Good to be on the show.
EMMA REBELLATO: Look, we're hearing that despite this bailout that there's no short-term guarantee of the future of the smelter, let alone a long-term guarantee. So, is this a good use of taxpayers' money?
AYRES: Well, it certainly is a good use of public resources here to achieve an important national interest objective and that is the continued operation of this industrial ecosystem in Far North Queensland and the Northwest Queensland Copper Province in particular. There are thousands of jobs and critical industries that are supported by this support package. But the commentary is certainly right to suggest that the work doesn't stop with the delivery of the support package by the Albanese Government and the Queensland Government here. The work starts and part of the package is making sure that we are a transformation package to make sure that we are working across the sector with all of the firms that are engaged in this copper making ecosystem and all of the other industries that hang off that to deliver more accountability and to drive transformation across the region.
EMMA REBELLATO: Well, speaking of the sector, we've seen the bailout and handouts to Whyalla Steelworks, Nyrstar, we know talks are underway with Tomago Aluminium smelter. So, is this just going to keep happening? That these big companies are going to be, keep coming to the government asking for help?
AYRES: Well, there are no guarantees, Emma, that these talks will resolve each and every one of these very complex circumstances that surround Australia's heavy industrial capability. These are tough issues and tough choices that are being made here by governments and firms. But there is - I just want to underscore, these are important industrial capabilities that are absolutely vital for Australia's economic resilience in a world which is tougher in a world that requires Australia to have that economic resilience so that we've got the industrial capability that Australia needs. Whereas, as I say, in a less certain world. And copper for example, is one of the metals that the world is going to require in vast quantities for the new industrial economy. Australia has vast copper reserves. Now I want to make sure, the Albanese Government wants to make sure, that through this investment we secure our capacity to make copper metal, not just to be exporting copper ore for other economies to capture this important supply chain.
EMMA REBELLATO: Well, you mentioned that it's a tougher world at the moment. Glencore certainly pointed out that it's not a level playing field on global markets. Glencore and BlueScope have also said that high energy prices are part of the problem. So, does the government need to look at doing something completely different here and look at a different type of investment rather than just handing over money?
AYRES: Well certainly on the energy side we are looking closely formal reviews on gas prices and on gas prices - gas supply. That broader question of certainty for Australian industry that are heavy gas users. There is a problem here that we are a big gas exporter. We need to make sure that there's certainty for Australian industry and that we're securing enough gas. The government acted in the last term to make sure that we put downward pressure on gas prices and coal prices following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. And Minister Bowen's leading this process looking at these gas supply questions now, certainly in terms of industrial electricity. That question in the National Electricity Market review is being worked through by Minister Bowen and the government will have more to say about these questions. We're absolutely focused on securing the future competitiveness of blue-collar jobs and blue-collar industry in the national interest. These jobs are in the outer suburbs and the regions, and they are important jobs and important facilities in the national interest. In terms of equity we have the National Reconstruction Fund, $5 billion in that fund allocated towards heavy industry and manufacturing. We certainly don't rule out the government through the National Reconstruction Fund opening up other ownership possibilities for these firms.
EMMA REBELLATO: Senator, another issue I want to get you on is the Optus Triple Zero outage. It sounds like a bit of a mess what we heard yesterday in Senate estimates. If you were an Optus customer, would you be changing?
AYRES: Well, I don't want to give people advice about their telecommunications platform. I just know that every Australian wants to know that when they dial Triple Zero that there'll be somebody on the other end of the line. I mean that is pretty basic. The blame for this, as you say, you know, pretty untidy response from Optus to a failure on their behalf, doesn't lift confidence in their performance. That is for sure that the Communications Minister has been very forthright and acted in the way that Australians would expect to demand accountability from Optus. But what Australians want to see I think is change and confidence that this firm will do what it is basically required to do.
EMMA REBELLATO: Senator Tim Ayres, thanks for joining us this morning.
AYRES: Thanks very much.
ENDS.
