Tom Venning (Grey, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Chris Bowen's fuel crisis isn't just inconveniencing Australians or pulling the handbrake on our economy; it is risking lives. In regional, rural and remote Australia, the Royal Flying Doctor Service provides a critical medical service for Australians. But, unfortunately, Australia's part time energy minister, Chris Bowen, and his inability to take responsibility and resolve Australia's fuel crisis has put this service and these patients at risk. His inaction has forced the RFDS to plan out what services will be cut when the bowsers run dry. Minister Bowen needs to take responsibility and fix this problem. He has been changing his message from day to day, spending more time blaming Australian families and businesses than doing something about the issue. We've now heard more than 400 petrol stations across Australia have run out of fuel, with my constituents in Grey—fishers, farmers, families and now miners—being the hardest hit. Minister Bowen has said time and time again that there is no fuel supply issue. There's nothing to see here, apparently! What a load of baloney.

I rise today to honour an extraordinary South Australian, 41-year-old Dan Turner of Port Lincoln. Right now, hundreds of kilometres off the coast of South America, Dan is floating alone in the sea, realising his dream of sailing around the whole world. He is one of just 15 competitors in the gruelling Mini Globe Race. This massive five-leg journey spans around 50,000 kilometres. Competitors navigate tiny 5.8-metre class globe yachts, with the event starting and finishing in Antigua. What makes the story truly remarkable is his vessel, Immortal Game. A property developer with no prior building experience, Dan constructed this boat entirely in his driveway. As I mentioned, Dan has roots tracing back to the proud city of Port Lincoln, where he first learned to sail.

On last report, he was leading the second leg of this race, bound for Fiji. He survives on 40-minute sleep cycles and has already overcome immense challenges from complex immigration hurdles to dangerous encounters with orcas. When he completes this year-long voyage, Dan plans to write a book, share his journey through motivational speaking and inspire the next generation of young, aspiring sailors in Port Lincoln. I commend his immense sacrifice, bravery and resilience, and I wish him safe travels as he conquers the high seas and safely returns home to us in South Australia.

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