Interview with Adam Steer, ABC Darwin

ADAM STEER:

We might leave Dan Sultan there and we’ll get to Jim Chalmers, the Federal Treasurer. Mr Chalmers good morning.

JIM CHALMERS:

Good morning Adam, I feel bad cutting off the great man, Dan Sultan.

STEER:

It’s ok, your Government has committed $1.5 billion to the proposed Middle Arm precinct in Darwin. Last week in question time independent Zali Steggall asked why the Commonwealth was funding key infrastructure for a private gas company, after Tamboran Resources was named as one of the five key proponents of the precinct. Why are you funding a private gas company?

CHALMERS:

What we're funding is a precinct which will be absolutely central to the economic prospects and the economic future of the Northern Territory. And there will be more than just one proponent, it will be an opportunity - whether it's gas, but also whether it's renewable technology, increasingly. It's a whole precinct which is designed to turbocharge the Northern Territory economy and help it grow into the future. There'll be a mix of proponents, a mix of tenants, a mix of energy sources, and I think that's a good thing and that's why we're prepared to co-invest.

STEER:

What do you say in the face of critics who say it's going to be a carbon bomb though, Treasurer?

CHALMERS: 

I obviously don't agree with that, there is a role for gas to play in our economy for the foreseeable future. One of its roles is to make sure that we can manage this net zero transformation as well as possible. As Treasurer, I'm a big believer in cleaner, cheaper, increasingly renewable, more reliable sources of energy but there's a role for gas to play for the foreseeable future. Certainly in the Northern Territory economy it's very important, and so what Middle Arm is all about is about investing in the future of the NT, making sure we can grow its economy and create jobs and opportunities. We do that by making sure that we can power the economies of the region increasingly with renewable energy, but for the foreseeable future, gas will play a role.

STEER:

We've just got a couple of minutes to the news and we've got a couple of questions for you this morning. Your Government promised $250 million for social problems in Alice Springs, but more than a hundred of those remain unallocated. It's a bit cheeky to promise that money but not deliver on it urgently, as was implied at the time?

CHALMERS:

I don't think so Adam. We have made a big commitment, a big funding commitment and we're rolling that money out because it's an important investment in the safety and security and the future of a really important part of Australia. And so that $250 million package which has got regional infrastructure in it, it's got school engagement, education outcomes, health outcomes, justice reinvestment, digital connectivity, all of these really important parts of our program. We are rolling that out as fast as we can, we listened to the local community. The Prime Minister went there with colleagues to make sure that we understood the conditions on the ground, we've made that commitment and we'll provide that funding as soon as we can and some of it as you say in your question is already rolling out.

STEER:

Kakadu spending, when are we getting that?

CHALMERS:

Well, we've made commitments obviously to that beautiful part of Australia. Kakadu is obviously -

STEER:

We've got about fifteen seconds, Treasurer, so when are we getting it? When's it coming?

CHALMERS:

It'll come as we've budgeted for, as soon as we can. We made that commitment because we believe in Kakadu, not just for its heritage benefits but tourism as well. It's an important part of the offering in the NT and I'm looking forward to being in Darwin later today.

STEER:

Good on you, Treasurer. We'll talk to you again soon, thank you.