KIERAN GILBERT: Joining me live in the studio now is the Resources Minister, Madeleine King, and also Labor's senior figure in WA. I want to ask you about the WA sort of scene in a moment, but on this issue, for viewers who don't know what it is, can you give a sense, sort of in simple terms, what do the production tax credits aim to do?  

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, the production tax credits for critical minerals aim to build a new industry, really, to drive investment in the new and emerging industry of processing critical minerals and rare earths right here in Australia. It is the single biggest investment a government has ever made in the resources sector. About $17 billion is what we predict will go into the production tax incentives over a 10‑year period. So, it is very significant. It is very important. It’s great for the resources industry, and I will also add that it is the resources industry that came along with me, as the minister, to help build this policy. So that's why it should be supported.  

KIERAN GILBERT: So, the industry's come out and is supporting it pretty clearly. The Coalition says it is throwing good money after bad, there are other ways to help the industry, like through IR. What’s your retort to that?  

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, I would say the Coalition has got their heads well and truly in the sand, and it shows a deep misunderstanding, or lack of understanding for the resources sector of Australia and, in particular, the emerging critical minerals sector. What we've seen is around the world, there's an international market manipulation; it’s an opaque market, it’s low volumes, and it's really challenging. It is different to iron ore and gas and coal, and the Coalition don't seem to realise that. What we see around the world is challenges to those supply chains. You know, I speak to government credit agencies from around the world, US, Republic of Korea, Japan, Germany, France, the European Union, the UK, and all of them want to do the same thing, create an alternative supply chain for these things. And Australia has to step up and take responsibility to make sure we can process critical minerals here, and that is what this government is doing. We're determined to do it. If the Liberals and Nationals want to put their head in the sand about the vulnerability of these supply chains, and the vulnerability of our national security to their opposition to these tax incentives, well, I guess, they will go right ahead, but we are going to keep prosecuting this argument because it is a good one.  

KIERAN GILBERT: Can you get it through with the Greens? Will the Greens get on board given there is a substantial area that you would imagine the Greens would support - 

MINISTER MADELEINE KING:  - Well, yeah, I would imagine. That's right, but, you know, the Greens play their games in this Parliament. Indeed, the Greens and the Liberals and the Nationals all play these games in this Parliament, seeming more obsessed about making TikTok videos than they are about actually doing their job and actually reading the policy.  What we saw was Angus Taylor on the night of the budget have a quick look over the budget papers and then dismiss out of hand the production tax credits. And that is to his great discredit and, in fact, to the whole of the Liberal and National Party, because there are mines and minerals processing opportunities right across this country, and by opposing production tax incentives, those members in the Coalition are doing their own communities out of good, well-paying jobs for generations. 

KIERAN GILBERT: Critical minerals has been an area of strength, and in some areas, a monopoly in China. So there's, there’s a really important strategic element to Australia alongside allies, but particularly Australia building up our capacity, isn't there?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Absolutely. 

KIERAN GILBERT: And America, Japan and others want us to be doing it. 

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Absolutely, Kieran. And, you know, China is ahead of the game because they invested 20 or 30 years ago, right. So they invested in the production processes and the Western world kind of sat back and outsourced that. Well, now we have got to step up and we do have to acknowledge that we need alternative supply chains. So, this is about competition. And you are right, there are governments around the world that also want that competition, and because we have a geology that is, you know, totally immutable. It is the only thing that is not negotiable. Our geology is our geology, the great gift this country has. So we should use it to our best advantage in a sustainable, responsible manner, make sure we mine it here, but not only mine it, but process it here for us, for jobs in Australia, for our national security and that of our partners. 

KIERAN GILBERT: Do you feel that this is a political ‑ you know, the federal election is just around the corner, is this going to be enough to hold on to some of those key seats in WA? We know it is a minerals state, it’s a huge issue there, the resources more broadly, is this enough to hold your ground there?  

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, it is a big issue, and it is a big issue for the resources sector right across the country but, yeah, you are right, particularly in Western Australia, this will be an important part of the debate. The Coalition have had a year to rescind from their, you know, crazy decision to just to, you know, throw it out out of hand, but there are so many other things that are equally important to the community in Western Australia. We all know there is cost‑of‑living pressures right across the board, so whilst production tax incentives will be important, equally as important, if not more, is that every Western Australian has a tax cut. We have provided energy bill relief, we are providing for fee-free TAFE, we are cutting people's student debts through the HECS scheme. So, whilst this is very important to Western Australia, make no doubt there are many other things that this government is doing to make sure Western Australians have their burdens eased as well.  

KIERAN GILBERT:  Resources Minister, Madeleine King, thanks, appreciate it.  

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Thank you.