Julie-Ann Campbell (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Unlike the member for Grey, I haven't been busy coming up with zingers like 'lake of make belief'. What I've been doing is working through what the people of Grey might need at an incredibly difficult time—what the mums and dads who rely on fuel to get to school, to get to sport and to get to their jobs every day in Grey might need; what the farmers and other people involved in the supply chain that help us get food to our grocery stores and from the grocery stores to the table might need; and what our health professionals, our aged-care professionals and people who support our communities every day, who need fuel, might need.

As I look at the private member's business before us, I note that the member for Grey has raised two things, both here and in his contribution. The first is to reassure Australians that a plan is in place, and the second is to urgently outline its fuel security strategy. I think it is appropriate, given that the member for Grey may not have had the opportunity to tell his local constituents what that plan is, to go through it today so that they can know and understand it.

It's a plan that has four stages: to plan and prepare; to keep Australia moving to make sure that things are getting from point A to point B; to take targeted action; and to protect critical services for all Australians. I want to talk about a number of things that we are doing, in practical terms, that help everyday Australians every day.

Firstly, we're halving the fuel excise, something that was announced today. Halving the fuel excise for the next three months means a few things. It means that every single litre of fuel will be cheaper until the end of June, and that means that Australians will get instantaneous relief when it comes to their hip pockets. Secondly, we're altering the fuel standards, making sure that we are keeping more fuel in our country so that we can have more supply in the market. Thirdly, we're releasing 20 per cent of our stockpile, a stockpile that the Albanese Labor government have ensured is held in this country, in Australia, because having fuel reserves in Australia is critical to being able to release fuel reserves when we need them most, like right now. In contrast, what we know is that those opposite and the now leader of the opposition believed that those fuel reserves should be held on another continent, in Texas. Fourthly, we're cracking down on unscrupulous actors who would take advantage of a crisis and a war in the Middle East for their own commercial gain. And that is not on. We believe not only that the ACCC should have the ability to have on-the-spot fines. We also believe that those penalties should be harsh. They should mean something and they should hold people accountable. And that's why we've doubled them. Fifthly, we've established a taskforce. We're working with leaders from across the breadth and depth of our country, taking expert advice and making sure that there is a coordinated approach. Sixthly, we're giving truckies a fair go—making sure, while our supply chains might be doing it tough, that truckies aren't. Seventhly, we're underwriting private purchases of fuel on international markets to make sure that we can get as much fuel into our country as we need—again, to make sure that we have enough supply to ease the burden on Australian people.

My message to the people of Grey is this: that is our plan. It is a plan to keep Australia moving. It is a plan to get fuel into our country and to make sure that, when it gets here, it goes to the places that need it most. It is a plan to boost supply. It is a plan to make fuel cheaper. It is a plan to ensure that people have the relief they need.

We know that people are doing it incredibly tough right now—not just when it comes to fuel but also at the check-out when they pay their bills. We have a national fuel security plan, and this government is focused not on zingers but on rolling it out for real people.

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