Sam Rae (Hawke, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Aged Care and Seniors) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question. I acknowledge that there are providers all across Australia in all of our communities who are providing these very important services to older people. Transport is obviously a critical part of the public service that's provided under the Commonwealth Home Support Program—I assume it's that program that the services the member is referring to pertain to.

As the Minister for Climate Change and Energy has confirmed, Australia is fuel secure. Petrol companies have advised us that fuel stocks continue to arrive on time and in the quantities expected. We continue to closely monitor the impact of prices on aged-care providers. Of course, providers can seek support through existing aged-care business and viability supports offered by my department, and we stand ready to provide those supports through the Market Adjustment Program, through dedicated First Nations support programs or through our business and workforce advisory services. We're not experiencing a fuel shortage. What we're seeing is localised disruption, caused by significant spikes in demand.

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