ADAM STEER: It's NT Resources Week to discuss the best way forward to harness our deep mineral and ecological wealth that we possess here in the NT. The Honourable Madeleine King, MP, Minister for Resources and Federal Minister for North Australia, is your guest.

Minister, welcome to Darwin. It's good to have you here. How long are you here for?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Good morning, Adam. I’m here for a couple of days. I was here yesterday and I just want to - if you don't mind - just acknowledge the remarkable moment memorial service that was held yesterday at the Darwin Convention Centre for Luke Bowen, who you know and as your listeners will know, was a really important voice for the North, but also the NT Cattlemen's Association. And anyone that was at that service yesterday or who witnessed it online will know what a remarkable effect he had on the North and the top end. And I really want to acknowledge his family and Tracey Hayes for a really remarkable service.

ADAM STEER: Yeah, it was a touching tribute to a remarkable man and not a dry eye in the house. Gone very, very soon.

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Very, very soon.

ADAM STEER: Exactly. What role do you think the territory plays in delivering secure energy and renewables for the rest of Australia? While we speak about the top end of North Australia? Because as we heard in Luke Bowen's memorial yesterday, he was a man who was passionate about pushing forward the virtues of North Australia. What role do you think the territory plays in delivering secure energy and renewables?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: The Territory has a pivotal role in delivering secure energy to Australia, but also to our region. And we know that what is really important is safe and sustainable development of our resources. And that goes for whether it's energy resources or also mineral resources, because both of those and what they make will be needed for the transition to net zero. And that's whether it be in providing energy for minerals processing and the minerals themselves will be needed to go into solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, new green technology. So, these things have to work together and the good news for the Territory is that these things can be found here. They are found here. In fact, I've got Geoscience Australia doing a deep dive into the more geological expectations in the NT, on the border of NT and WA, you know, looking for more opportunities, which is great for the diversification of the NT economy and great for the wider community therefore, as well.

ADAM STEER: Well, we can't talk about resources in the territory without talking about Beetaloo and Middle Arm. So, I'm going to start with Beetaloo. The Northern Territory Supreme Court due to hand down its judgement today over a legal action challenging the Northern Territory Government's approval of twelve exploratory wells in the Beetaloo Basin due to climate change concerns. What's your response, minister, to the increasing threat of litigation facing oil and gas projects here in the Northern Territory?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: I want to be clear, and I think I've been clear about this before as well, is that I do respect the justice system and proponents and opponents’ access to the court system to review decisions. That's an important part of how we have accountable decision making and people can go right ahead and do that. So, I don't want to make anyone think that either - that I object to people taking things to court, but what we've seen in the past, and I don't know what's going to happen today in that decision - is that the Federal Court has said that some behaviours within the court system by people taking action have been entirely unacceptable, including coaching of witnesses and so forth and a lot of, I think people acting in those actions have to have a good look at how they behave in relation to the witnesses they bring before the courts. But by and large, you know, I have a great faith in the Federal Court and other courts around the country to make decisions and that they'll go through to their appeals and their proper processes, and that can be frustrating for industry, and I get that. But also it's important that if you have access to that system, that you're able to use it.

ADAM STEER: What's happening, though, on your front bench? The Environment Minister, Tanya Plibersek, has launched an independent inquiry into the impacts of Beetaloo on water resources. What's going on there?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, that's really, I guess an important part of the Minister's jobs is to seek scientific advice from the independent expert scientific committee about the impact on water resources. And I also note there's been a lot of studies here conducted in the NT. I mean, Michael Gunner's Government did the very fulsome pepper inquiry and successive governments have agreed to implement all the recommendations of that inquiry. That's a really important study into the safety and sustainability around the Beetaloo project. And what Minister Plibersek is doing is making sure that that's up to date and that the Independent Expert Scientific Committee can have a look at as well. And that's, I think, acceptable and we need to provide confidence to the community that the Beetaloo doesn't impact water and that's a good investigation to be having.

ADAM STEER: When we talk about oil and gas, we're talking on two different measures. One, the potential environmental impacts of any production or movement, and two, the economic impacts out of it. The Australian Taxation Officers called the gas industry, quote unquote; "systematic nonpayers of tax". In one year, 27 big gas corporations brought in 77 billion. That's $77 billion of revenue but paid no tax. What's going on? Why are you propping up gas industries that are not paying their way in tax?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, I'm going to take issue with that. I don't know in what sense you think we are propping up gas industry. I'm not doing any such thing, and neither is the government. And I might add, I don't think any other government has too. The gas industry funds itself through shareholder funds or its activities in this country and around the world. We don't prop up gas industries.

ADAM STEER: So, $1.5 billion of federal money into the Middle Arm isn't propping up gas industries?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, no, it's absolutely not because Middle Arm is not. It's a sustainable development precinct to create an industrial zone. And I might add that Darwin is the only capital city in this country that doesn't have one of those industrial zones. And I think the people of Darwin and the people of the Territory should have that kind of precinct that every other state and territory in this country has to be able to diversify its economy. It's not focused on gas. It's obviously next to an existing or very in close proximity to an existing facility. But that's not the same thing. And I don't think that should be conflated. Middle Arm is a bipartisan policy of elected government - successive elected governments from both sides of the political fence in this state. And I respect the decision of Northern Territorians to support middle arm through their elected representatives.

ADAM STEER: And do you feel that Territorians do support Middle Arm? Given that we have just seen the Labor Party smashed out of government and we have seen the first Green elected. We have seen Independents elected who are against the Middle Arm project.

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Adam, just as I have a lot of respect for the the administration of justice, I also have an extraordinary respect for the democratic system as well. And obviously I'm a representative because of that system. And the diversification is emerging in the NT Parliament, I think that's a really good thing. But whilst there has been Independent and a Green elected, there's also been quite a number of seats to the CLP being elected. And the CLP are very supportive of Middle Arms, perhaps more so than anyone else, in fact. But the thing about the Middle Arm precinct is it has to be done well and it has to open up the economy of the north and it will be engaged in renewables projects, green hydrogen projects, all the things we really need to do to drive to net zero.

ADAM STEER: Yeah. And what about the Sun Cable solar project? How supportive are you of that?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, I'm very supportive, but these things have to stack up. How it works through Middle Arm or other potential infrastructure supports is a matter to be determined. But we all want these projects to work and to be productive so we can move off our reliance on fossil fuels.

ADAM STEER: And so, will the Federal Government be investing in Sun Cable?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, Minister Bowen's already been working a lot with Sun Cable, so, I mean, that's matters to be decided in the future. We certainly like all these renewable projects, we do what we can to enable them to go forward. And Minister Plibersek has made sure that approvals are in place, just like she's made sure that approvals are in place for all sorts of projects that really develop the nation's economy.

ADAM STEER: Okay, so you're not just the Minister for Resources, though. You're also the Minister for North Australia. A question, I think, without notice; do you support the idea of a Northern Territory team for the AFL or even a North Australia team sharing with Cairns?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Oh, hey, I hadn't heard that last idea before. Yeah, I'm keen. The thing about NT footy, and I'm from WA, so I think we each understand that the Victorians have been stealing our best footy players for a very long time. So, I mean, the Rioli family up here - remarkable footy players. Anthony Tipungwuti , even Nathan Buckley was raised in Darwin, so and Alice Springs is perfect for footy. I saw Fremantle, my club, you know, take a positive turn against Melbourne earlier this year. It didn't end up well for us in the end, but, I mean, why not? But what I would say is having been a Fremantle supporter after 30 years, we still haven't got a flag. So, I wouldn't want anyone to hold out too much.

ADAM STEER: I feel your pain. I go for the Bombers. It's all the same. We're just as bad as each other. Hey, Minister-

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Tipungwuti goes so it must be great.

ADAM STEER: Thank you so much for your time this morning. Next time when your here, I'd love to see you in the studio so we can talk more, particularly about the opportunities for North Australia.

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: I'd love to do that, Adam. Take care.

ADAM STEER: Thank you. Madeleine King, Minister for Resources and the Federal Minister for North Australia. You are on ABC Radio Darwin. Adam Steer with you this morning.