TOM MANN, HOST: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is with me. Good morning.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, good to be with you and looking forward to being in Whyalla this morning.
MANN: So Prime Minister, can you explain today's announcement for Port Bonython?
PRIME MINISTER: That's right. Well together, both governments are investing $100 million, and that is for infrastructure at Port Bonython to prepare it to become South Australia's first large scale export terminal for hydrogen. This is such an exciting project and the vision that the South Australian government have and one that I share for that region becoming a real centre of economic activity, beyond where it is now. Taking advantage of the potential for Australia to become a renewable energy superpower. So what it will do is, because there's such available land there, of course there's abundant solar and wind resources, South Australia is primed to become a world class, low cost hydrogen supplier. And the government has a comprehensive plan to develop a hydrogen industry in the Spencer Gulf. That will make an enormous difference for jobs - we're talking potentially about projects at the redeveloped Port Bonython being worth $13 billion, generating as much as 1.8 million tonnes of hydrogen by 2030. And we're talking about, in terms of jobs, the hydrogen industry potentially can create, we reckon 16,000 jobs in regional Australia, but 13,000 jobs from the construction of renewable energy infrastructure to power this production.
MANN: And so why was this location chosen?
PRIME MINISTER: Because it's ideally situated. There is a world class port there, but you also have the potential for essentially green hydrogen, which is hydrogen created through renewable energy to power, for example, the steel production of green steel there in Whyalla, for it to be an export hub as well. There's nowhere better. One of the advantages that Australia has, and why I say we can be a renewable energy superpower, we have the best solar resources in the world, we have one of the best wind resources in the world, we have an enormous amount of space, and that provides us with the opportunity to produce this clean, green hydrogen, which is a very powerful energy source to power production and manufacturing to make more things here in Australia, but also the potential for a very significant export industry.
MANN: And so you mentioned by 2030 about 8 million tonnes of hydrogen being exported. So, what is the timeline for when this hydrogen hub and other similar ones will be up and running?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we're making the $100 million between the Federal government and the Malinauskas government available immediately. We think that there are a range of regions that are suited, the Upper Spencer Gulf, but there are other areas as well - the Pilbara, Gladstone in Queensland, Townsville, the Hunter and Bell Bay in Tasmania. So, there's a huge opportunity here for a significant industry. We allocated in the budget $2 billion for our new Hydrogen Head Start Program, and this is the first of the significant investments. But we think in particular, the Upper Spencer Gulf is such an enormous potential going forward, so we want to see this move quickly. We know that there's a global shift to clean energy and to decarbonise economies. That is an economic opportunity for Australia and one that we must seize. And you'll recall a few years ago when we were talking about the change that would happen to the global economy, the then Coalition saying that Whyalla would be wiped off the map. Well, Whyalla is thriving and has a potential to be an even greater source of economic activity and employment.
MANN: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is with me. Now Prime Minister, on renewable energy, the state government recently halted plans for offshore wind farms on the southeast, which will reduce the build in that area by about a third, and there's a similar debate raging in Illawarra, NSW, over a similar issue. Are you concerned about the roadblocks facing in the build of other new renewable projects?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's important that communities be properly consulted and be engaged about the development of projects, that is a normal part of the process. And that's what South Australia's done, that's what the federal government's doing as well in NSW with regard to offshore wind. We'll continue to consult and have processes as this shift occurs. But there is an enormous benefit for communities to gain employment through this activity, through this shift, and that is something I know that communities will be engaged with. So, community consultation and involvement and empowerment is a part of the process.
MANN: Now, we're set to head into an extremely hot summer, by all accounts, with records already being broken for this time of year. Do you have concerns for or plans for blackouts this summer?
PRIME MINISTER: No we think that in terms of the grid, we're making sure that we're working with state governments as well as the Australian Energy Market Operator on the issue of reliability. One of the things that hydrogen can do, of course, along with gas, is make sure that that reliability is available and that is part of the shift that is going on. South Australia, of course, has been extremely successful in developing its renewable energy industry. Indeed, South Australia has led the country, really, when it comes to having a vision for clean energy and for making sure that it is got right. There's a range of issues which are legacy issues we have to deal with. One is that the grid was made for a time when the idea of a solar panel was something that powered your pocket calculator, it didn't power your household or industries. So, we need to make sure that the grid is made fit for purpose, and that's something that we're doing. But we know that there's enormous positives. Our concern about the coming summer is being dealt with in part by the Summit that we're bringing together about bushfires and emergency management preparation in Canberra over the next couple of days. I'll be back in Canberra tomorrow and addressing that Summit. We know we've just had the hottest July on record, we know the climate is changing, which is why we need to change the way that our economy functions. Along with the whole global economy needs to change because we're seeing more and more extreme weather events and they're more intense when they occur.
MANN: Now, Prime Minister, one issue that has been of great concern in this region and has seen a lot of people getting very fired up, the cost was recently released as to what has been spent on the now abandoned nuclear waste facility in Kimba. And the site, it now seems, is back at the starting point. When is some clarity likely to arise around where that facility could be?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, we'll work through those issues. It is unfortunate that the former government essentially did not deliver this project in an appropriate way so the Federal Court overturned the decision. It was a decision that we supported as the Labor Opposition under my leadership. But the Court knocked it over because the government essentially, the Federal Court found that the previous Minister, Keith Pitt, had apprehended bias when declaring this site. Now, that is unfortunate. The Federal Resources Minister, Madeleine King, has instructed the department to develop policy options for managing waste into the future. This work is ongoing. We're being firm in the need for the Commonwealth to safely manage our own radioactive waste. And it is unfortunate that the former government mismanaged this to the point whereby the Federal Court intervened in the process.
MANN: And Woomera has been floated as it is already a site of some nuclear waste storage. Is Woomera in consideration?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, I don't want to preempt the process. We'll have a proper, orderly process, receive advice. We know with the Kimba site that that took many, many years to be identified, which is why it's unfortunate that the government didn't do it in a way that was able to withstand legal action in the courts. So, I'm not about to preempt and create a similar circumstance over any future sites.
MANN: And finally Prime Minister, polling for the Voice to Parliament referendum, it's now just under three weeks away before the vote will take place. How are you feeling about the possibility of a significant change in trajectory, with polling still showing a continued decline in Yes voting?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I'm hopeful that people will have a look at what the actual question is and the question that's before the Australian people, and the opportunity is to advance reconciliation by recognising Indigenous Australians in our constitution and secondly, to do it through an advisory group. That's all the Voice is - a non-binding advisory group that will be able to give advice to government on matters that affect Indigenous people. Because we know that if you consult people who are directly affected, you get better outcomes. And that's why we saw yesterday all of the major health organisations all coming out saying they want better results on health for Indigenous Australians, that's why they're supporting a Yes vote. And yesterday I was with Julian Leeser, the former Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs, at the Uniting Church for the launch of the Uniting Church's campaign as well who saw it have a very powerful video. I'd encourage your listeners to Google and have a look at just putting the church's view, as all the faith groups have, of this is the time to show compassion and to recognise Indigenous Australians so that we can get better outcomes through that listening process.
MANN: Prime Minister, thank you very much for your time this morning.
PRIME MINISTER: Thank you very much, great to talk with you.