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

The government's plan is to work to increase the fuel supply in Australia by releasing 20 per cent of the minimum stock obligation, which we have done. We have done so on the condition from the minimum stock entities that they see that fuel flowing to regional Australia. That has been entered into and has been implemented. I also announced a temporary relaxation of the rules for sulphur for petrol, which will see an extra 100 million litres of fuel be supplied to the system each month.

In addition, the Prime Minister has convened National Cabinet, I've convened energy ministers, and we have agreed to keep working together on contingency plans. We will work every day with refiners and with suppliers to ensure that that fuel flows to where there are real shortages as a result of the increases in demand that we have seen across Australia.

The Leader of the Opposition interjected, which I'll take. He said, 'It's only increases in demand.' If the Leader of the Opposition could point to one ship that hasn't arrived or one refinery that isn't working—

Opposition members interjecting—

As the government has made clear on multiple occasions, every ship that has been expected has arrived. We have very transparently said that there have been cancellations in April. The Leader of the Opposition is the one who has misled people and said that we are stopping exports from Australia, which is not true.

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