Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Dawson for his question. I want to acknowledge the work that our volunteers do, including the ones that he referred to. One of the things about our country is that we're defined by the way that we look after each other, and that's nowhere clearer than in the example that the member for Dawson gave. That's one of the things that will get us through the pressures that are on right now—Australians looking after each other. That was one of the key elements of the National Fuel Security Plan—not seeking to impose solutions on people but saying that people should only take what they need so that fuel is available and so that people are able to continue to keep our economy going under what are global pressures.

We understand, and I certainly understand, that people are doing it tough at the moment and that this is creating a great deal of anxiety out there. If you go to a petrol station and you can't fill up, it makes you anxious. In a country like ours, we rely so much upon our motor vehicles to get around, which is why we're saying in the fuel security plan, for example, that if you can get to work on a train or a bus and that's convenient and therefore leave more fuel around then that's a good thing. But we understand that not everyone in our country can do that, particularly in regional communities. That's precisely why we are doing that.

We're working across the board as well. I note this. Someone was talking yesterday and they said:

… there is very extensive coordination between business and government. There is a graduated approach that has been adopted and we've seen government acting quickly to implement appropriate arrangements, including standing up the National Coordination Mechanism, meetings of the NOSEC—

National Oil Supplies Emergency Committee—

starting the National Cabinet process, the appointment of Anthea Harris as the Fuel Supply Taskforce Coordinator, changes to fuel standards, release of reserves …

…   …   …

… these are all important and very worthwhile steps and business is being closely consulted as government works through the options …

That was Andrew McKellar, the head of ACCI.

What is happening is that overwhelmingly, with a few exceptions that I can think of, we are working together in the national interest. That's what we'll continue to do, including in the interests of the constituents of the member for Dawson, because we understand these difficulties, which are global. We are not immune to the impact of this war in the Middle East, which is why we will continue to take strong action, as we have already.

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