Angie Bell (Moncrieff, Liberal National Party, Shadow Minister for Youth) Share this | Hansard source

Australians have been under enormous pressure every time they pull up to the bowser, and, after months of delay, the Prime Minister has finally acted to halve the fuel tax. But—let's be clear—this announcement, while welcome, has come far too late and has only done half the job, because cutting the tax means very little if Australians can't access affordable fuel in the first place. Right now, the real concern is supply. Families, tradies and small businesses don't just need cheaper fuel; they need certainty that, when they turn up to the servo, the fuel will actually be there. This is where the government is still falling short.

There has been no clear plan to ensure fuel supply or to ensure that supply gets where it needs to go, Prime Minister. This government has shown no urgency in strengthening fuel security and no leadership to address the pressures in distribution that are already being felt in communities. When supply is tight, prices rise, and that means any benefit from a tax cut can, and will, quickly disappear. Australians deserve more than a headline announcement. They deserve a government that understands the reality. This is not just about price. It's about access, it's about reliability and it's about leadership, Prime Minister. Australians deserve better.

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