The Hon Madeleine King MP

NADIA MITSOPOULOS: Now, Madeleine King is the Federal Resources Minister. She's been listening to Adam Woodage this morning. And I just wonder, Minister, how you respond to this development?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Oh, good morning, Nadia. Well, I mean, to be fair, Adam's got some very good points that he's made and I really, I hope I haven't misquoted him. But he did say something along the lines of, without workers, there is no Pilbara powerhouse.

NADIA MITSOPOULOS: That's exactly what he said. Yep. MINISTER MADELEINE KING: It's 100 per cent true.

And I know you are asking about the wages that the workers in the Pilbara earn. And to my mind, in my view, having spent a bit of time there, but not as much time as they do, they deserve every single cent of what they earn because those conditions are really hard. They are hot.

The swings away from family and friends are intense and it's a real impact on family life. And I've been in various, you know, breakfasts and stuff in the CBD when you ask people to put their hand up would they work four weeks away and couple of weeks home. I don't see anyone putting their hands up to do that kind of work.

So, these women and men that go and do that get a good start, a good start for their families back in the metro area or wherever they're from. They deserve what they get. And they have every right to work together for their conditions.

And they have a right to negotiate. And I urge both parties, having said all that, I urge both parties, or all parties to make sure they continue to negotiate. Because no-one likes industrial action.

We know it's disruptive. But sometimes because of the imbalance of power between workers and employers and, you know, the biggest miner in the world, they need to work together, whether it be through unions or otherwise to make sure they do have, can enact their agency to negotiate for conditions. NADIA MITSOPOULOS: Okay, so if they do take strike action and two of the unions, you know, members have voted to, will they have your support?

MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, I really hope it doesn't come to that, and I think the workers [indistinct] - NADIA MITSOPOULOS: But my question is, if it does, will they have your support? MINISTER MADELEINE KING: I'm really not going to preempt it because I hope it doesn't happen. And industrial action is stressful on workers, too.

It's not like people welcome this kind of thing because it's disruptive to their own, you know, work productivity. People like to do their job. But when they're not getting fair reward for it or they're being ignored by their employer or not listened to, this is the only the only power they really have is to have this action.

And Adam was quite right to point out the laws they are using for industrial action were enacted under John Howard. In fact, the only change this Labor Government has made in industrial laws is to add a further point of de-escalation. So, there's a lot of misinformation being spread around by various bodies that always do this kind of thing when workers stand up for their rights.

NADIA MITSOPOULOS: But the criticism is that the change that your government has made is allowing the unions to get a foothold back in the Pilbara, and the mining sector, which you represent as the Federal Resources Minister, is not happy. We're going to hear from the Chamber of Minerals and Energy in just a moment, but they are very worried. MINISTER MADELEINE KING: But what's wrong with unions working in the Pilbara?

Let's have a look at this. BHP have EBAs around, around the country in different mining enterprises such as the Olympic Dam in South Australia and others on the East Coast. So why aren't those enterprising - enterprise bargaining agreements welcome, or that unionisation welcome in the Pilbara?

What is different about the Pilbara? That's what I don't understand. So, you know, if BHP want to explain that, that'd be good, I suppose, for people.

NADIA MITSOPOULOS: Well, we've invited BHP to speak to us, so we'd love them to take up the offer. I have a statement that I'll read. It doesn't say much, but I will read it, I guess.

So, in regards to the concerns that are coming from the mining industry, are they scaremongering? MINISTER MADELEINE KING: Well, they overblow things, I think. But I don't want to minimise the point that people really need to go back to the negotiating table.

That is both the unions and BHP, because that's where the best solutions will be found. But I've listened to Adam and I've met with Adam, just as I've met with the various executives of BHP. And, you know, they are at a bit of a loggerhead, but they need to get together to resolve it, because, as I said at the start, no-one really likes industrial action.

It's disruptive to everybody. But having said that too, workers, you know, they deserve every penny, every cent. Sorry.

And they deserve their agency to negotiate for their conditions. NADIA MITSOPOULOS: All right, I'll leave it there. I know you're about to board a plane.

Madeleine King there, the Minister for Resources. The Department of Industry, Science and Resources recognises the First Peoples of this Nation and their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to the lands, waters, seas, skies, and communities. We Acknowledge First Nations Peoples as the Traditional Custodians and Lore Keepers of the oldest living culture and pay respects to their Elders past and present.

We extend that respect to all First Nations Peoples.