Doorstop with WA Premier Roger Cook, Perth
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Thank you, Premier. It's really my real honour to be here in Kwinana, which is the heart of the Western Australian economy and indeed has been the heart of the Western Australian economy since the 50s. And here with a local member and Premier Roger Cook, Rita Saffioti the Deputy Premier, and Minister for Housing John Carey. And that we are here in Kwinana, a place that has had many challenges over many years. That we can be here announcing a landmark housing agreement between the Albanese Labor Government for the Federal Parliament, but also for the state Labor government with Premier Cook, is really a remarkable thing. This landmark agreement will deliver 21 projects here right across the regional Western Australia, but also metro and outer metro. So, it's a really widespread project that will provide social and affordable housing for so many Western Australians in these pressing times where we know so many, so much of the community is affected by cost-of-living pressures. Housing pressures are very much a part of that. This is something the Albanese Labor Government is very well aware of and that's why we have committed $32 billion to help build more homes, provide for affordable and social housing right across the country and this project today announced here in Kwinana for all of Western Australia is very much a part of that. It goes to show how important it is when state Labor governments, like the Cook Labor Government of Western Australia, works with the Federal Labor Government, the Anthony Albanese Labor Government, to get things done. That is what we are doing. We are making sure there will be housing available for more Western Australians and more Australians. And when state Labor and state federal governments work together, we know we can build a better future for all Western Australians and all Australians. Thanks. I'll hand back to Rita.
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SPEAKER: Minister, for any upcoming Federal reshuffle, would you welcome an additional WA Member of Cabinet?
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: I would always welcome more Western Australian representation, just in the Federal Parliament full stop. But of course, I would welcome another Western Australian in the Federal Cabinet.
SPEAKER: Well, I think at the moment the Prime Minister's only fit to see [indistinct] you as the only WA Member of Cabinet. Would you like to see Matt Keogh join you? Should we have more than one?
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: I think I'm doing okay as an Australian Federal Cabinet Minister. Of course, we would always like more but you know, we need to have more seats in WA to make sure we do have more representation within the Cabinet. But I would note that there are a number of Western Australians in the Ministry. Matt Keogh, who's an exceptional Minister, has done an exceptional job in Veterans' Affairs. His work ethic and efforts cannot be in question. Josh Wilson has recently made Minister as well, Anne Aly has been in that role for some time and of course Patrick Gorman as well. So, Western Australia does in fact have an excellent reputation at the highest levels of Federal Government.
SPEAKER: Minister, how key is WA to Federal Labor [indistinct] a second term?
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, Western Australia has a long history of supporting the Federal Labor Party and we've returned to where we once were and that's a very good thing. What we know is that Western Australians, like the rest of the country are facing a lot of cost living pressures. We're here today to talk about a really important and landmark housing partnership. So, while WA Labor and Federal Labor are working together to help Western Australians, we see Peter Dutton working against Western Australians by not voting for help with the Housing Australia Future Fund, by being outrageously and entirely anti resources and anti-Western Australia by opposing production tax credits by voting against energy bill relief. Really what that all adds up to is Western Australians know they can believe in Federal Labor, that we will deliver them a better future. Peter Dutton cannot be trusted. He has outrageous, uncosted, unbelievable nuclear plans for this state in a beautiful town of Collie which will affect all of us. He will send our power bills through the roof. So, Western Australia is important to Federal Labor and to forming government, and it will remain the case for a very long time to come.
SPEAKER: The state government has announced a lithium support package. Why are the Feds content to leave the state carrying the bag on this issue?
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, I'll tell you who is leaving WA lithium resources companies to carry the bag and that is Peter Dutton and the Federal Liberals and Nationals. It is beyond belief, it is staggering that Peter Dutton and the Liberals and the Nationals have opposed a 10 per cent reduction tax incentive to go to the processing of lithium. Now that lithium hydroxide, those factories, those refineries have been built just over there, not very far from here. WesCEF, which is a joint venture with Wesfarmers, Wesfarmers have backed in their production tax credits, as have Tianqi, as has Albemarle, as has the Chamber of Minerals and Energy in Western Australia, as has AMEC, as have many others. So, who is not helping here and in fact doing the opposite of helping is Peter Dutton. And that's why Western Australians cannot trust him when it comes to the resources future of this state and this country. And they shouldn't think for a moment.
SPEAKER: Should the Federal Government be adding to that support package?
MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, we're already working with the state government. I congratulate Premier Cook and Minister Michael for the $150 million package they have put together for lithium. Lithium is facing extraordinary international market pressures like no other commodity at the moment in this market. So, we are working with international partners and in fact I've signed, I think it adds up to about eight or nine different agreements with governments right around the world to bring in investment through low-interest loans, through government credit agencies to support this industry. We've invested millions into how we can work together once again with the state Labor government here in Western Australia, and others as well, on shared infrastructure for the processing of critical minerals. So, the Federal Labor government under Anthony Albanese is stepping up to the challenge of developing a new critical minerals and rare earths industry while Peter Dutton and the Liberals are just stepping back and bringing their feet up, saying there's no problem here. We're up for the challenge. We're going to build this critical minerals industry and we'll build it alongside Premier Cook's WA Labor.