PETER GLEESON: This decision today by Holden, in many ways it's not just a decision to pull out of the country, but as you and I both know, Keith – we're sort of similar ages – we grew up with Holden cars, we grew up with that famous ad, my first car was a Holden, your first car was a Holden. In many ways it's a blow to the Australian psyche, isn't it?

KEITH PITT: It is indeed. I mean you've only got to look at Bathurst, you've only got to look at just how serious the levels of support are across the country. There are individuals out there Peter who they live and breathe Holden cars. My first car was a HT Holden Kingswood, three on the tree, bench seat in the front and the back, you could take six people in the car which is great. But, you know, I'm concerned about all those dealerships and all those individuals that are providing parts and replacements. I think anyone that's out there that's got a shed full of spares might want to hang on to them.

PETER GLEESON: Absolutely, there's no doubt about that. Now look, you know, you've hit the ground running with your new portfolio – obviously we'll talk about resources and we'll also talk about water. But, you say living outside the Murray-Darling Basin area probably, in many respects, helps you to sort of go through this real problem that exists there at the moment. How do you expect to tackle that?

KEITH PITT: It's a tough policy area and I certainly understand, you know, water's a scarce resource, desperate people will always do desperate things – so I get it. But I mean there's confidence, I think, can be gained from the fact that my decisions will never have a reflection on my electorate. I can never be blamed about making a decision because of pressure from my own constituents. I think that's a good thing. But I certainly look forward to getting on the ground, hearing from individuals this week – I'll be in the Murray-Darling this week.

PETER GLEESON: Well Keith, there is a particular water issue in your electorate that I'm interested in your thoughts on and that, of course, is the Paradise Dam. Now, we know that there's an inquiry that's begun, we know that it's a very, very controversial proposal and certainly blokes on your side of the political fence, particularly at state level, are very angry about the way that the Palaszczuk Government has handled this. What are your thoughts?

KEITH PITT: Gleeso, since we last spoke the Palaszczuk Labor Government have put through legislation in the Queensland Parliament to basically bypass all of their own state laws and environmental laws so they can knock the wall down. Now, I don't see the point in inquiries or any other activities if they've passed a law that says they must reduce the size of the wall. My view's very straight-forward – we make safe, we repair, we restore or we replace. This is a critical piece of infrastructure, certainly as the Federal Water Minister I've asked my departments to engage themselves and see what options there are at a federal level. But I'd say, once again, to the Queensland Labor Government: safety has to be the first priority but the second priority has to be – how do we repair, restore or retain that facility. It will take more than a decade to build anything else, in fact, just to get the approvals could take 10 years.

PETER GLEESON: Minister, you've been very clear on your thoughts on nuclear energy. You say that it should be a consideration as we look at all of the energy sources within this country – whether it's coal, whether it's renewables or whatever, solar. Where do you stand right now on energy considering that, sorry on nuclear, considering that it is such a touchy subject in Cabinet?

KEITH PITT: I've always been technology agnostic; I support things that work. Before I moved into the Cabinet I was a member of a backbench committee, I wasn't even a voting member, Peter, even though the Labor Party might want to make merry with some of that. So, Ted O'Brien chaired that committee, it made recommendations to the shareholding Minister who is Angus Taylor, for a partial lifting of the moratorium. Now, the Government's position is very clear – there is a moratorium in place, there is no way to lift that in my view and other's view without bipartisan support. But Minister Taylor does have a mandatory period in which he has to provide a response and I certainly look forward to seeing what he's got to say in the near future.

PETER GLEESON: And what about this SA farm that's becoming a nuclear waste facility? Tell us more.

KEITH PITT: Well, I introduced legislation to the parliament on the last day of the sittings last week on Thursday for Napandee to actually be the facility for Australia's low-level waste. And certainly that's been a long process – it's taken some 40 years to complete this search. And I want to thank the people of the Kimba community for the work that's been done, for the fact that they were engaged as a community. There's been surveys run which would demonstrate there's 61 per cent support; every neighbouring property to the facility's site is 100 per cent in support. But I really want to mention Rowan Ramsey, the Member for Grey. He's lived and breathed this issue now for a number of years. It's been really tough, not only for Rowan and his constituents, but him personally. And I think this is the right decision. We need to do something about where the waste goes from nuclear medicine. Now, nuclear medicine is incredibly important. One in two Australians are likely to utilise that technology in their lifetime. It prolongs their life; it could potentially stop them from passing away from cancer. It's a very important technology but we do need to manage that low level waste which is currently stored at Lucas Heights, and this is the solution.

PETER GLEESON: Keith Pitt, you are Resources Minister now. I mean, we know you're pro coal, we know you're pro coal-fired power stations and yet we continue to have this debate about whether in fact coal is the right way to go. And now, you would've seen last week where this so-called Otis Group, the right-wingers in the Labor Party got together at the Otis restaurant to talk about the validity of coal because we saw in Central Queensland, voters very much backed coal at the last election. We saw in the Hunter Valley a huge swing against Joel Fitzgibbon to One Nation because of that sentiment. What would you say to your Labor colleagues and particularly the left of the Labor Party about the future of coal in this country?

KEITH PITT: Well firstly, Peter, I'm pro jobs. I'm pro resources because it's an important part of our economy – some $280 billion roughly, 250,000 permanent jobs, most of those in the regions. We know the Labor Party are in absolute conniptions. They don't know if they're Arthur or Martha; they're not sure what to do with the subject. You know, I congratulate Joel Fitzgibbon on standing up to the factions inside the Labor Party – he actually sees a bit of sense every now and again. In fact, I've offered to go and brief the group. I understand there's some 20 that attended the Otis restaurant that Joel booked. There's no seat for the Opposition leader but if they could squeeze me in, I'm happy to go and have a chat. But I'll continue to try and expand the resources sector because it provides jobs for our people and jobs into the future. The International Energy Agency says coal will be part of the mix for at least four decades; Australia's coal is the best in the world, that's why people buy it. You know, every individual that's out there should be proud of the job that they do because it's royalties from coal and other resources that pay for schools and roads and hospitals.

PETER GLEESON: Alright. Keith, before we go, there's been a bit of rancour in your ranks. I mean, Barnaby Joyce took on McCormack and lost. Your predecessor Matt Canavan has threatened to cross the floor unless things go this sort of ginger group's way. I mean, I think all political parties have their divisions at some point, but this has been particularly unedifying. How do you guys proceed with the Nationals brand being so badly bruised in the last week or so?

KEITH PITT: I'll leave the commentary to the commentators. But what I will say is that McCormack – the numbers have been tested three times in two years. He's won every time; we are just getting on with it. I take Barnaby and others at their word – that they say that's it – and we just need to be unified for the sake of the Australian people and for regional Australians in particular. They rely on us to fight for them. That has to be our 100 per cent focus, it certainly is for me and I think it is for everyone else. A week in the electorates a long for a member of the House of Reps. I think my colleagues will get some very clear messages about what their local people think and we will just continue to get on with what's important.

PETER GLEESON: So do you think Barnaby's put his leadership aspirations away?

KEITH PITT: I take him at his word, Peter. He said publicly that's it. I think he's a valuable member of the team, Barnaby. And certainly you can sell a message if he's so inclined. But we all need to move forward. The role that I have is a very important one in terms of our economy. I want the resources sector to grow. We've got $100 billion in infrastructure on the table. We are developing things for regional Australia which will secure the future of those people that choose to live in our regions into the future and I want my kids and their kids to have a job. That is my focus.

ENDS