ANDRE LESLIE, HOST: You're listening to me, Andre Leslie, on ABC Northern Tasmania Breakfast. We've been asking for your questions this morning for the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. Why? Well, the PM is in Burnie right now talking about the Bernie shiploader upgrade. $18 million was recently announced in the Budget for this. But what is it all about? Well, let's find out. Welcome to the ABC Northern Tasmania Breakfast show, Prime Minister.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Hi, Andre, I'm now in Devonport.
LESLIE: Oh, gosh, you do get around. Okay.
PRIME MINISTER: I do, indeed. But the Burnie shiploader was awesome last night, I've got to say. I climbed up to the very top of it. You can see the whole of the coastline, so you could just about see to Launnie there from the top of the shiploader. And essentially what it's about is increasing productivity. It's $82 million now we've put into the total project and it's doubling the speed in which ships can be loaded. And what that means is that bigger ships can come in, it can be much more efficient, which really benefits the economy here in Northern Tasmania. So, it was quite good to meet all the workers there yesterday as well. The Tasmanian Rail Revitalisation program, something that I put as Infrastructure Minister, over $300 million into budgets in the past, and it’s great to go back and see the difference that that funding can make.
LESLIE: Let's stick with ports, docks, berthing, that sort of thing. As you'll likely know, there is a dispute at the moment over who will fund the costs of rebuilding the berth for the Antarctic research vessel Nuyina. Can you guarantee Tasmania will remain home to this vessel?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it should. The Tasmanian Government needs to get on with delivering. We’ve substantial money on the table, of course, for Macquarie Point, for the urban redevelopment there. Part of that has to be looking after the Antarctic port there. This is really important. Minister Plibersek has raised this issue a number of times with the Tasmanian Government, with multiple premiers now over a period of time. We want to work with the Tasmanian Government to deliver it. We know that Tasmania should remain the gateway to Antarctica. It's as simple as that. To do that, we do need wharf six to be upgraded to host the Antarctic ship.
LESLIE: If a deal can't be done, are you planning on talking with Western Australia about the Australian Antarctic program?
PRIME MINISTER: No, I'm planning on getting the deal done with Tasmania because this is the right destination for it. You've got all the research facilities here as well. It's the closest destination and it's the right thing to do. We're committed to Hobart remaining the home base of the RSV Nuyina. And this goal currently needs to be delivered on. It's as simple as that.
LESLIE: Let's change topic again. It's been big news this week. I have to ask you about it, Prime Minister. The Opposition's nuclear plan, of course. We have a big focus on renewables in Tasmania. How confident are you that Peter Dutton's plan won't get across the line?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it hasn't lasted 24 hours before it's fallen apart. You've got this Coalition that had 22 energy policies and didn't land one when they were in Government. They at no stage mentioned nuclear. And now, out of government for a couple of years, they've come up with an uncosted plan that is the most expensive form of new energy and where nothing serious can happen until the 2040s. We need supply now. So, projects like Marinus Link are the way to go. The wind projects in the Bass Strait. We have the best solar resources in the world, bar none. Yesterday, I said you can fry an egg on a footpath here in the summer. In most parts of Australia, the idea that we would go down this road that's too expensive, takes too long and has no detail attached is just a nuclear fantasy. And that's why Peter Dutton has not only not come up with any cost, because he's trying to hide just how expensive it is, he's saying that the government will do it all. Why is he saying that? Because it's almost counterintuitive for the Liberal Party to nationalise the energy sector. But they're doing it because no bank or financier will touch this with a barge pole because it doesn't stack up.
LESLIE: Speaking of money, we've just had a text in from a listener, as we've been asking them to do all morning, so a question without notice. Prime Minister, George mentions the SunCable manufacturing project in Bell Bay. Is the Federal Government supporting the project there?
PRIME MINISTER: We want to see as much manufacturing as possible, including for cables. I know the proponents, if it's the one that I'm thinking of, is certainly looking towards production there in Tasmania. I want a Future Made in Australia. I want us to make more things here. And part of that is using the Australian solution for energy, which the International Energy Agency has made it very clear that whilst nuclear power has an important role to play in Europe and some other parts of the globe, here in Australia, what makes sense is to value renewables.
LESLIE: We've got to finish on Macquarie Harbour and our listeners in the west of the state are always interested in this topic. The Maugean Skate as we know, is on the verge of extinction there. When will Tanya Plibersek announce what measures, if any, need to be taken to ensure it avoids extinction?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, she is going through the legal processes as the Environment Minister. One of the things that I'm very clear about is I want the salmon industry to be able to continue to operate across the state. It's worth more than a billion dollars and it directly employs 2,000 Tasmanians. But there's a further 3,000 related jobs. Now, the industry has a vital role to play in Tasmania, not just today, but into the future. So, we support a strong and sustainable cement industry in Tasmania. And one of the discussions that I've had while I've been here is looking at and hearing the feedback from industry and others about how the skate, along with other species, we need to protect them all, but we need to look for a win-win here to make sure that the environment's protected. But we need to make sure that jobs and that important industry is protected as well. Tasmanian salmon is the best in the world. And it's a great asset for this state's economy. But it's also something that I think Tasmanians are quite rightly proud about because it's such a good product.
LESLIE: Now we've been talking music all week, Prime Minister. On this show we often do. Our Northern Tasmanian listeners love their live music. We asked them earlier on about their biggest gig in a small venue. And I know you're a live music lover. Do you have one for us that you can remember and tell us about? Doesn't have to be in Northern Tassie.
PRIME MINISTER: Well, not in Northern Tassie. More in my own hood. Spiderbait at the Annandale Hotel, which is a tiny little venue where Spiderbait there just completely went off with Kram, the drummer some of your listeners will be familiar with. He's a big fellow and he really drives the band. Just a three piece. But the Annandale Hotel is, you're on the same level, everyone. There's no elevated stage when they used to have gigs there. So, it was pretty awesome. Another one, there's a little hotel in Ultimo in Sydney called the Vulcan Hotel. It's now a b&b, I've noticed, but it used to actually have a stage that was below where the fans were. And The Celibate Rifles at the Vulcan Hotel was a pretty memorable gig. So, there's two for you.
LESLIE: Pretty good effort with no notice. Thanks very much, Prime Minister. We'll have to leave it there. We've got a travelling park ranger we have to catch up with shortly, so thanks very much for your time this morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you very much. And it's wonderful to be back in Northern Tasmania. It's warming up here this morning as well.
LESLIE: We'll hit 13 degrees, I think, where you are today.
PRIME MINISTER: Easy. Thank you.