INTRODUCTION: As the bushfires raged across the southern states earlier this year, so did the battle for the top job in the Nationals party room. Former deputy PM, Barnaby Joyce, challenging current Deputy PM, Michael McCormack, as the leader of the Nats. The Minister for Resources and Northern Australia at the time, Queensland Senator, Matt Canavan, tendered his resignation and backed Barnaby Joyce.

EXCERPT OF MATT CANAVAN: ...achieved so much, and I do think a change in direction here will allow us to do that better, for our constituents, and ultimately that is why I'm here for.

INTRODUCTION CONTINUED]: Mr Joyce failed in his bid, taking with him Senator Canavan to the backbench. One reshuffle later and we have a new Minister for the North, this time another Queenslander. Minister Keith Pitt is the Queensland regional MP for the seat of Hinkler. Minister.

KEITH PITT: Well, good morning to you and good morning to your listeners.

ADAM STEER: Before we find out a little more about you, your predecessor, Matt Canavan, announced some significant projects under the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility - the loan scheme better known as NAIF - including $150 million for the Northern Territory Airport, $300 million for the ship lift, and conditional approval for $150 million loan towards the CDU's city campus. Do you still back those projects?

KEITH PITT: Absolutely, I mean we're committed to delivering on those projects over a period of time. Obviously these are large projects that do take some time to A, get underway and B, get to completion. But the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility is about driving the North, it's about driving regional economies and providing local jobs, and that's what gets me out of bed every morning, to be honest.

ADAM STEER: On the CDU deal, will you be reassessing the viability of the loan in the wake of the coronavirus, and the subsequent reduction in the overseas student income the uni will be able to generate?

KEITH PITT: Well the NAIF is an independent authority so they do the assessments. As Minister, I have a veto right, but effectively I'm out there trying to drive more projects into the NAIF to get more money delivered out of this concessional loan fund. We do have roughly $3 billion left available - I want to see that in the economy, I want to see these projects being delivered.

ADAM STEER: Let's get to you. Member for Hinkler, named after the famous aviator, Bert Hinkler - who I think landed in Darwin in his very first solo flight between England and Australia in the 20s. Can you briefly introduce yourself to the Top End?

KEITH PITT: Absolutely. I'm not a career politician, I'm an electrician by trade, I'm an engineer by profession, probably a farmer at heart, although I don't own any farms anymore. But I come from Bundaberg, I was born there, I grew up there. Like many kids that live in regional areas, went away for further education and eventually found my way back. It's an area which is well known for its agriculture, for its seafood, for its people, of course Bundaberg Rum, which I'm sure some in the territory might have heard of - I'm certainly sometimes known as the member for Bundaberg Rum, but it's a very famous brew right around the world. And as you've said, Bert Hinkler is from Bundaberg, in fact, in recent years there was a really impressive project that restored the car that he did a Brisbane parade in with one of the local vintage car clubs, some 6000 hours that was volunteered by them. Which was fantastic, and you can come and see that, that's another tourism of attraction in my area, just like the great tourism attractions in the North and in the Territory.

ADAM STEER: There's a big debate about the future of coal at the moment, we don't mine coal in the Northern Territory, nor do we use it for our power. So aside from coal, where do you see the future for Northern Australia?

KEITH PITT: Well I think the resources sector has a fantastic future. The Beetaloo Basin's got the potential to be a new world class gas province, you know, some 178,000 petajoules of shale gas. That is an enormous resource. We of course need the Northern Territory to get their policy settings right to allow that to move forward. But I'm about jobs, whether it's in resources, whether it's through driving the economy with the Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund. I think the North has wonderful potential. I've been to Kununurra on the west a couple of times. I've been to Darwin a few times before in previous portfolios. It's a wonderful place. It's got wonderful people. We just need to continue to provide opportunity.

ADAM STEER: What about renewables? We see a number of solar farm projects in the Northern Territory about to start up. Would you like to see more of that activity?

KEITH PITT: I'm technology agnostic. I support what works. And there's a place for pretty much all types of energy delivery, in my view. It's a matter of what suits the current conditions and the local conditions. There's certainly really good opportunities around what's known as hybrid energy resources, so where you do use intermittent wind and solar along with existing diesel, for example, particularly in remote areas. So, I'm a big supporter of taking a practical approach and a pragmatic view.

ADAM STEER: Alan Finkel says the Northern Territory has the opportunity to become a renewable energy superpower. How keen are you to see the future of things like hydrogen in the Territory?

KEITH PITT: Well, we do have a plan for hydrogen moving into the future. You might have heard, and your listeners might have heard, about the technology roadmap that's been put together by the shareholding minister, which is Angus Taylor. I expect to hear more about that later in the year. But it'll be the Federal Government's plan on how we do some of the transition. It'll be the utilisation of technology that gets us there.

ADAM STEER: How can you reassure sectors like tourism, education, agriculture, in the face of the coronavirus threat? I mean, what do we need to do in northern Australia to help get over this significant challenge we're about to face?

KEITH PITT: Look, life is always about opportunities and I think there are opportunities even though we are facing a very difficult phase of what is potentially a pandemic across the world. So, I'd say to all of your listeners that Australia is well advanced in its preparations. We are ready. We constantly work to keep Australians safe. But in terms of our exports, we have a quality product that the world markets want, even if there is a shift overseas to locally led deliveries. So people down buying groceries - that's an opportunity for Australian exports. We know in the resources sector that we have a very advanced and mature market. We've negotiated free trade agreements with China, with Japan, with South Korea. We've put together the TPP. That provides options for Australia's exporters right around the world. That's one of the reasons we've been so consistently strong in negotiating these agreements. Because when these types of issues show up, there are options for Australia's exporters to sell their product.

ADAM STEER: You're on ABC Radio Darwin. Adam Steer with you. You're also hearing from Minister Keith Pitt, who's the brand new Minister for Northern Australia. Minister, when are you going to come and visit us in Darwin?

KEITH PITT: Oh, as soon as possible. As soon as possible. We're looking at the forward diary now. I've been in the gig four weeks at 6 o'clock tonight. I've already done a run down through the Murray Darling because I've got water inside the portfolio. A very scarce commodity that we need to manage right across the country. But I love the north. It can be a bit wet on occasions, as all of your listeners know. But I just think that it's a land of opportunity and we need to make it happen.

ADAM STEER: Well, please come into the studio when you are next in Darwin. Before I let you go, I want to give you a quickfire quiz on the important issues of the Northern Territory.

KEITH PITT: Sure.

ADAM STEER: What's the best time of day to eat a laksa?

KEITH PITT: Anytime. Whenever suits you.

ADAM STEER: Bush chook - friend or foe?

KEITH PITT: Well, a bit of both.

ADAM STEER: And oil of what is best to remove mould in the wet season?

KEITH PITT: I guess- you're too good for me. I use a Gerni.

ADAM STEER: Or clove oil you can use, Minister. It is lovely to talk to you this morning and look forward to meeting you face to face when your next up here.

KEITH PITT: No problem. Thanks for the questions and great to be with you.

ENDS