Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Hansard source

The opposition will support this motion to suspend standing orders, but I would say a couple of things, if that's okay. First of all, it's good to see the minister here, and it's good to see the minister actually moving to do something. The only trouble is it's taken over one month since the Iran war started for him to finally realise that we have a national crisis and to start moving, to start pulling his finger out and doing something. That is why we're happy to agree to this.

I would say also that we appreciate that this is the parliament working as the parliament should work. We were offered a briefing. We had a briefing. We were able to consider what had happened. We'll have a proper debate of these three bills here today. That's how the parliament should work, especially when we're dealing with a national fuel crisis. So we're happy to support this, but we say to the government that you should follow the precedent that you have followed today on all bills in this House, because this is the way proper government should work. You have made a complete hash and mess of this national fuel crisis. It is a complete hash and mess. Australians are hurting. They can't get fuel, and they are paying through the roof for fuel. It's good to see that, finally, the penny has dropped—one month too late. We're hoping that National Cabinet and the states and territories will be able to help the government again with some announcements after that. Because this is the government actually doing something, having realised this is a national crisis, we are happy to support this suspension of standing orders.

Question agreed to, with an absolute majority.

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