4CA interview with Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek

MURRAY JONES: We have been concerned about the Cairns Water Security Project. We've made a start in August last year, they did start the project, but funding has been, I guess, wanting for a while. Great announcement this morning and with a nice warm temperature of 34 degrees, it's nice to warm in, into the studio and to Cairns, the Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, good morning.

TANYA PLIBERSEK, MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER: Another beautiful day in Cairns, Murray.

JONES: You've just touched down and I think things might start to go sideways a little bit. A beautiful day and a great announcement for Cairns.

MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Yeah, thanks very much. Look, we know that the Cairns water supply, the drinking water supply was coming under real pressure and in fact, by 2026 there wasn't going to be enough really good quality drinking water. So, we started working with the previous Queensland Government and Cairns Regional Council on this water supply issue and we had already committed more than $100 million to upgrading Cairns water supply. Today we're announcing another $87.5 million to be able to complete that project. This is great because it means an extra 6400 megalitres of water, good quality drinking water for Cairns every year. But it also means that the Cairns Regional Council doesn't have to pass on those additional costs to ratepayers. So, this is a saving of about $6,000 for every Cairns household that they'd otherwise be paying for through their rates.

JONES: That's significant. And look, let's talk a little bit more about the project because I guess it was a situation where they thought, well, we've got to at least start it, hopefully that further funding will fall into place. And it looks like it just has, which is wonderful news for the region as well. But in a lot of ways, quite a smart project. There's always a lot of talk about dams, but this particular project, quite cost effective in that it's been done with an existing water source, and I guess the way that's extracted and cleaned and provided to the city as well.

MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Yeah, that's right. So, there'll be intakes on the Mulgrave River. They'll be basically sucking the water out of the river. And then in Gordonvale there'll be a facility that purifies that water, makes sure that it's good, good quality for drinking and then it'll be linked in with pipes to the existing water distribution network and that's how it'll get into people's homes and businesses.

JONES: And look, you know, it does seem like a better option than building dams, you know, when it costs, you know, comes to the cost of building dams. And we've had crazy ideas over many years about turning all the rivers inland. Obviously, those water flows, and we're talking about taking a small amount out of the Mulgrave River. Our wet season, we talk about the amount of rain that we get particularly last year during tropical Cyclone Jasper. But those water flows are actually still really important for the Great Barrier Reef too.

MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Yeah, well we've been doing a lot of work, in fact, just last year I announced another $300 million to make sure that the water that's flowing onto the reef is cleaned up. We know that in a lot of places you've got pigs in particular that are really disturbing riverbanks and sending mud into rivers and gullies and creeks, and that water ends up on the Great Barrier Reef. So, that $300 million that we announced last year has been really important in revegetation programs, making sure that the mangroves that collect the silt before it goes onto the reef are re-established. You know, dealing with feral animals like pigs and others. We've also been investing in some really good, very basic stuff, but upgrading sewerage treatment plants, upgrading stormwater. I mean this stuff, it is really bread and butter. In fact, my colleague Senator Anthony Chisholm was at Port Hinchinbrook recently. He just was there for the opening of the new sewerage treatment facility that the Commonwealth government has worked with the State and the local council on. We're very proud to be making that sort of investment in water quality.

JONES: Excellent. And look, it is so important moving forward. Obviously, this has been something we've been concerned about. I know Nita Green did have some concerns about the cost blowout. Let's get in and avoid any more cost blowouts and get this thing happening too.

MINISTER PLIBERSEK: That's right. I mean we were, we went halves with the Queensland Government. We had the same investment as the Queensland government in the initial cost and we're now got the same matching investment with the Queensland government. We'll be putting $195 million in each. And of course, the council's also putting in a bit over $80 million. It is almost a half billion-dollar project. It's a very substantial investment. But without this investment, the growth of Cairns means that by 2026 there wouldn't be enough quality drinking water.

JONES: Well, look, if we can just quickly touch on another subject because I know you're about to go and do a bit of a media session with respect to the release of this 87.5 million dollars. Economically, you know, the world's got some concerns. Even the greenback dropped quite dramatically on the inauguration. The gold has actually increased as well, quite dramatically, probably as a result of the greenback actually dropping down. Cost of living in Australia, it's one of those long-term things that I know that people have got real issues here with in Australia. As the Minister for the Environment and Water, it must be a little bit concerning that sadly, you know, when it comes to the cost of living, the environment often takes second place because people are just trying to keep, you know, food on their plate, looking after their families. And of course, you know, sadly shortsighted may impact on the environment and of course economically long term though.

MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Yeah, well, I'm really proud to be part of a government that wants Australians to earn more and keep more of what they're earning. And so we've backed the minimum pay increases that have seen someone on the minimum wage in Australia earning just over $7,000 a year more since we came to government. We've backed a tax cut for every Australian taxpayer. We're a year into those tax cuts now and the average is just under $2,000, about $1,900 tax cut for people. But I really don't - so, cost of living is absolutely front and centre for us with electricity bill relief, cheaper childcare, cheaper medicines, more bulk billing, all of these things that we're delivering for families. But I don't think you need to have a trade-off between those things, which I'm absolutely committed to and looking after our environment better. And you know, I think about most families now, they want to be able to take the kids to the beach, they want to be able to go for a bush walk, they want to be able to go camping, they want to be able to go fishing. They're really cost effective ways of entertaining the kids. So, you know, it's just one example of how protecting our natural environment actually benefits families that are on a budget.

JONES: And obviously economically moving forward, it's just so important as well. But yeah, I guess I've just got some personal concerns that sometimes, you know, when people are having a tough time, unfortunately those things do go sideways. But as I said, that balance and protecting, as we well know, you know, with the Great Barrier Reef, the Daintree Rainforest, we're so dependent on a beautiful, clean and healthy environment.

MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Well, you know, the reef itself, the estimate is 64,000 jobs. Tourism, accommodation, hospitality, all those jobs relying on that. And Daintree is the same. You've got really, really good businesses delivering local benefit for people because you've protected the environment. Queenslanders have prioritised looking after this beautiful natural wonder, the Great Barrier Reef, unique in the world. And they've done it for good environmental reasons. But there's been a real economic payoff for that, too.

JONES: Great to talk to you. I know you've got the media conference coming up. Always a pleasure to see you.

MINISTER PLIBERSEK: Lovely to see you, too.

JONES: Have a wonderful day in Cairns. Federal Minister for the Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek. Thank you so much for your time this morning. Cheers.