David Batt (Hinkler, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Right now, the cost of diesel in my regional Queensland electorate of Hinkler is sitting at a high of $3.15 per litre. Unleaded is upwards of $2.50 a litre. Those opposite keep telling Australians that we are in a good position to deal with this crisis. Tell that to Brian from Bundaberg, who called my office this morning. He's wondering how he will afford to visit his grandchildren in Brisbane during the upcoming Easter holidays. Tell the farmers and producers of Hinkler that we are in a good position. They are already changing the way they do business. They're busily reconsidering who they can viably supply and how they can do it. What about the truckies taking our produce to market from Hinkler and delivering essential supplies to our region? What about the tour boat operators taking visitors to the southern Great Barrier Reef, with fuel costs now skyrocketing by upwards of $2,000 every day? What about the Hervey Bay retirees who are changing their driving behaviour, too afraid to leave their homes because they simply can't afford it? Australia is facing a genuine national emergency and fuel crisis, and this is being felt everywhere, especially in regional Australia. Prices are visibly hitting households in real time. Working from home is not an option for so many in the regions.

So what about the bills before us here today, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for ACCC Enforcement) Bill 2026 and the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026? Yes, the coalition is backing the doubling of penalties for the ACCC. This is tangible. Increasing the maximum penalty for anticompetitive behaviour and ensuring the price of misconduct is high enough to deter unfair activity is good. We must ensure consumers retain a robust level of protection. Yes, we support tougher penalties for those doing wrong, but the commission must also prosecute. We won't cop fuel gouging, but let's not forget to give confidence to the independent fuel retailers, who don't know where their next order is coming from or when. Doubling penalties won't help supply.

This government needs to do more. It needs to do better. How about acting for regional Australia too? Don't put the blame on Australians. Speaking of confidence, it's worth pointing out that consumer confidence has now fallen to its lowest since records began, stretching back over 50 years to 1972. It is even below the COVID-19 pandemic low of 2020.

As for the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026, we on this side of the House are weighing up what that means. It was brought in here at 9.15 this morning, and I'm sure those on the other side are also still reading their talking points as they're speaking in here. It'd be nice and, more importantly, appropriate to have the opportunity to properly understand it and scrutinise it, but right now all we are seeing is a game of politics.

Regional Australians don't have the luxury of jumping on a bus or working from home. Fuel is how we get to work, how we get our kids to school, and how our businesses and our farms keep running. When the pumps are empty, our communities grind to a halt. The parliament should be focused on getting fuel flowing and prices under control now. Be wary of bills that are this rushed. Should we be talking about fuel excise? Can we reduce the excise? The government should be looking at every option to take pressure off, including temporary and targeted relief, because so much damage has already been done.

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