Leon Rebello (McPherson, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak today for many people across my electorate who are struggling with fuel supply. Let me be clear, though, about what is happening here. The coalition recognised the urgency of the first of these bills, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for ACCC Enforcement) Bill 2026. We recognise the urgency of it. But what's also happening is that, in the purest form of arrogance that has long characterised them, the Albanese Labor government have bundled it up with another piece of legislation, the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026, which we only received earlier today.

Petrol and diesel prices are rising across the country. I spoke recently to Jon and Sharon, who own a family crane company in my electorate, and they have seen a considerable rise in the cost of fuel. Theirs is a company that purchases between 7,000 litres and 10,000 litres at a time. Between just the 28 February and 18 March, they've seen an increase in their costs from $1.63 a litre to $2.73 per litre. This cost is being passed on, as you'd expect, to their clients, and it is, in turn, being passed on to builders and to the cost of construction. Many of the people and the companies who use these cranes engage in the construction of both commercial and residential housing as well.

The impact we're seeing on families from rising fuel costs is multifaceted, and it's compounding, because we're already seeing a government that has presided over an incredible cost-of-living crisis. We're seeing inflation that is out of control, and we are now seeing families having to add, to their already growing burden, the increased cost of fuel. I'd like to take this opportunity to acknowledge my colleague the federal member for Wright, someone who is very familiar with the transport industry. He has worked as a transport operator, and he spoke very passionately about this topic earlier in this debate.

The country is at breaking point. We are not seeing any sort of meaningful action here. There's no talk about solutions, no talk about, for example, adjustments to the fuel excise. There's no talk about what the government is actually doing. Instead, the talk we have heard has been confusing and conflated, especially when it comes to the presentations by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy during question time over the last couple of days. We've seen the government contradicting itself. We've gone from there being no fuel problem to a national crisis being declared. We've seen multiple national cabinet meetings. We've seen a government that has ultimately been caught flat-footed and asleep at the wheel. And it's not only individuals who are hurting; it's small businesses. Many of us on this side of the House have been involved in and run small businesses. It's those people who are really struggling at the moment. These are the ones who are wanting to make sure they have a future for their business, for the people they employ, and no guarantee is being given by this government.

As the coalition, we will definitely scrutinise this legislation, especially in the Senate. But the way it has been put through today is characteristic of this government. We're approaching Easter, a time that is very special to Australians. But what are we going to actually see? We're going to see an increase in holiday cancellations. We're seeing families who have probably been looking forward to travel after working very hard but being unable to travel and take time with their families. We need a government who is not only prepared to act but prepared to act in a way such that we can work with them. We've been very constructive in the sense that we've said, in relation to the first part of this legislation, that we're happy to provide some support. But the way it's been rushed is, again, characteristic of a government that is arrogant and out of touch.

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