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

As we've said consistently this week, we recognise fully that, in regional areas in particular, there are shortages and that the supply chain is under huge pressure, as we've seen a massive increase in demand. That has been our consistent position. It remains our consistent position. We've been very clear that no-one in the fuel supply chain should seek business or economic benefit out of that. Today the Treasurer and I have worked very closely together with the ACCC to ensure that ACCC penalties are increased for the sorts of behaviour that see people—if anyone is—trying to exploit that situation for their own financial gain. The ACCC will deal with it.

In relation to the honourable member's question, it's also necessary—and, I would have thought, it's in the interests of the honourable member's community—for all of us to point out that fuel continues to come into Australia at the expected level and that our fuel supply stockholdings are good, which they weren't previously. Before 2023, when we instituted the minimum stock obligation, whatever holdings we held were in Texas, and we would be in a very difficult position if that was the case. We would be in a difficult position if that was still the case.

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