Interview - Sky Newsday

CHENG LEI [HOST]: Sky News understands the Coalition will consider tax breaks for regional Australians as part of the tax plan it takes to the next election. Joining me live from Warwick in Queensland is Assistant Minister for Education, Regional Development and Agriculture, Anthony Chisholm. Hi there, Anthony. Great to talk to you. What do you make of the latest news that that's what the Coalition is considering to help out regional Australians?

ANTHONY CHISHOLM [ASSISTANT MINISTER]: Seems like another thought bubble from the Opposition Leader. I notice he's in Mount Isa today and it's another policy that they haven't thought through or provided any details on. I go to Mount Isa regularly. I know that town well. What they need there is support for new industry development, particularly in critical minerals. There's an enormous opportunity in the northwest part of Queensland to develop those minerals and create jobs and industry around it. That's what our government's focused on and I'm sure that's one that will be welcomed in that local region as well.

LEI: But that's going to take time, for the election wouldn't something like tax breaks be a better sell?

CHISHOLM: Well, we've obviously got a range of cost of living measures that we've put in place. Obviously, the tax cuts that started on July 1 this year for all Australian workers that benefit from that. But what that region does need is jobs that are created now and into the future. The work on the CopperString project up there, that is a significant part of the transformation, connecting them to the electricity grid around the country. That will be the key to enabling these new mineral deposits to be developed and for the mines to go ahead. And so that work is already there but we know that that area has had a rich history in mining, and we want that to continue, which is why we've got the plans in place that we have around production, tax credits and support for those industries that we think is vital for them to continue to be a great place to live and work.

LEI: Now, you were earlier in the day in Stanthorpe opening up a new precinct centre which includes an art museum. What are priorities for people there, for example?

CHISHOLM: Yeah, well, obviously arts and culture are really important all around the country and we just don't want to see new arts and cultural precincts in capital cities. It's important that a place like Stanthorpe can have those facilities for the local residents, but also, it's a good tourism town as well. So, I'm sure they'll benefit from having locals come through and use the facilities, but also attract tourists as well. They had a great art collection, which really surprised me for a place like Stanthorpe and they had about 60 volunteers that maintain the art gallery as well. So, it really shows you that in parts of regional Australia they do amazing things, and they have amazing facilities and it's important that governments of the day support local communities in those endeavours. There's no doubt that communities like this are feeling the pinch when it comes to cost of living, but they've also got great opportunity when it comes to wine, when it comes to agriculture. The Big Apple town is in Stanthorpe as well. We want to ensure that all those industries are thriving and that we're supporting those communities to develop as well.

LEI: Let's talk about concerns on regional connectivity, because today the creditors of Rex are going through its finances. What do you think a bailout is going to look like?

CHISHOLM: It's a really important issue and it's one that the Federal Government, and Minister Catherine King in particular, are working closely on. I've flown a lot in regional Australia in recent months, in South Australia and in Queensland and they've been on Rex flights. So, I understand that this isn't a convenience for many communities, it's a necessity to go visit family. It might be to get to a health appointment in the city. So, it is important to note that those regional flights that Rex run are continuing to operate. The government's working constructively as best we can with the creditors. We want to ensure its long-term survival and that it can remain operating. So, we'll continue to work to do that, but we do have to be patient. It obviously goes through the creditors process, which can be difficult and long, but we want to work constructively as best we can to ensure that those services do continue into the future.

LEI: We've also heard about reforms to give more competition in the Sydney airport slots. Had they come earlier, do you think, do you think Rex will be still going under?

CHISHOLM: Well, they did have opportunity to use slots between Sydney and Melbourne and they were at times that were convenient --

LEI: But at the mercy of Qantas and Virgin.

CHISHOLM: There's obviously been an ongoing issue there with how these slots work and that's something that we are bringing reform to. These are really complex changes, and we've said that we will go out to the market to see who will operate or run these slots into the future. So, it is an important component of competition in the aviation sector and ensuring that we do have as cheap airfare as possible. But we also, in a big continent like ours, we need to ensure that these airlines remain viable and continue to service the vast geography and geographic location of the towns that rely on air transport to get to capital cities for important appointments, family reunions, etcetera. So, it is complex. It is something that we're working through, and we've also got the White Paper that will be released shortly at the same time about the long-term future of aviation in this country. So, on these issues, the government have been acting quickly and decisively, but it is a complex area of policy development, and it's important we get it right for the long term.

LEI: We've been talking about the childcare pay rise the past two days, not just the pay rises themselves, but how it might lift standing of the sector. What are some particular needs in the regions when it comes to childcare?

CHISHOLM: Yeah, it's a really important issue, and there's so many facets to this, particularly in regional towns. One is we obviously need to attract more workers to the sector, and obviously a pay rise will be a significant part of that. We hope that will encourage those people already working in the sector to stay, but also encourage people to train, start training, and become an early childhood educator. What we know in many parts of regional areas is that you do get families who move to these places, but one of the barriers to that is the lack of affordable childcare and space they can get into as well. So, hopefully, with these pay rises, we see new educators come in, that they are willing to work, or they do train in a regional area, and that will expand the opportunity and the economic opportunity for families in that space, where you might only have one out of a couple working at the moment. So, it is an important reform, one that I think will lead to long term economic benefits, particularly in regional towns, which is pleasing.

LEI: Thank you so much for your time today. Great talking to you. 

CHISHOLM: Thanks very much. 

ENDS