Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

Not only did I say and do I say that Australia's fuel supply is secure; every honourable member should say that, because that's the truth. The responsible truth to tell the Australian people is that we continue to receive fuel supplies as expected. In the last 10 days, fuel supplies have arrived in Australia in Townsville, Brisbane, Cairns, Broome, Geelong, Gore Bay, Kwinana, Gladstone and Mackay. Those fuel supplies have been coming in as expected. At least 16 vessels have already arrived this month, and there are many more on the way, with 25 to 30 more vessels expected this month. The chief executives I've spoken to today have told me that there are no indications that that fuel won't arrive.

In addition, we have the minimum stock obligation fuel supplies, which, contrary to what the Deputy Premier of Queensland so irresponsibly told Queenslanders and Australians yesterday, have not been accessed and are still there to be called upon if and when necessary. So it is the responsible thing to do to say to Australians that our fuel supplies are secure. At the same time, we have acknowledged that we are facing supply chain issues in regional Australia in particular and that we've seen demand for the Perth terminal, for example, increase by 165 per cent. Regardless of who is in office, regardless of what petrol companies are doing, that will put pressure on, and we should be honest about that. That will put pressure on supply, and we will see localised shortages, and we are. But we should also reassure Australians that industry and government working together can ensure that the supply of fuel to Australians is secure and there is no need for panic buying.

We've paid our thanks to the member for Maranoa, who has said something very similar, and he has behaved responsibly. Not every honourable member opposite has taken the same approach. When honourable members opposite question whether Australia's supply of fuel is secure, they are undermining the national interest, because our fuel supply is secure.

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