Billy’s solution to transport hot metal now and then? (4,3)

I believe the answer is:

bush tea

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'billy's solution' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'transport hot metal now and then?' is the wordplay.
'transport' becomes 'bus' (bus is a kind of transport).
'now and then?' indicates alternate letters (letters taken on a regular basis, now and then).
'hot'+'metal'='hotmetal'
The alternate letters of 'hotmetal' are 'htea'.
'bus'+'htea'='BUSH TEA'

'to' acts as a link.

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(Another definition for bush tea that I've seen is " African drink".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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