Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration) Share this | Hansard source

Oh, the irony of the Leader of the Opposition moving a motion regarding leadership during a time of crisis! This is the man whose policy response to increasing our nation's fuel reserves was to store more of our fuel offshore, in another country, the United States. Imagine if the 'minister for offshore fuel' over there were the Minister for Climate Change and Energy now. With an international oil crisis due to the war in the Middle East, instead of being able to release 20 per cent of our fuel reserve, as our government was able to do over the last couple of weeks, if the Leader of the Opposition were the energy minister we'd be begging the United States to release and ship fuel to Australia, and the response from the United States could have been, 'Get your own oil.' That could have been the response that we'd got. But thank God we have a responsible Labor government in charge, which had the foresight to bring Australia's strategic fuel reserves back here to Australia, onshore, where they belong.

During times of international crisis, Australians want stable, responsible leadership and cooperation, and that is exactly what the Prime Minister and our government are delivering during this difficult period. As soon as the war broke out in the Middle East, we convened the National Security Committee of cabinet to develop a plan to secure our fuel supplies and to keep prices as low as possible. Since that day, we've listened to the experts and consulted with the states and territories, but, most importantly, we've listened to the Australian people. We know that they are feeling pain because of the increase in international energy prices due to the war, and we understand the difficulties that this is creating for families, for households and for businesses. But we've developed a plan in consultation with the Australian people and the states and territories to maximise the supply of fuel, to minimise the price pressure, to crack down on price manipulation, to eliminate energy bottlenecks, to protect regional communities and industries and to prepare a plan for all contingencies.

The conflict in the Middle East has reduced supply and inflated international prices for oil, and no nation, including Australia, has been able to escape that reality. We know that this is hurting households' and businesses' budgets, so we're putting in place measures to reduce prices. Today we've halved the fuel excise to 26½c a litre for three months, and that is already starting to flow through to prices at the bowser. We've cut the heavy vehicle road user charge to zero for three months to lower the cost for truckies, who are essential to keeping food on the shelves, and there is financial support as well. We're providing financial counselling for farmers, who we know are doing it tough due to supply constraints in rural and regional areas.

We're also acting to increase supplies throughout the Australian market. We've released 20 per cent of Australia's strategic fuel reserves, about 760 million litres, predominantly of diesel. We're able to do that because we brought that strategic reserve back to Australia. Rather than having a voucher system where we would have relied on the United States to not only release the fuel but then ship it to Australia, we've now got the stockpile here. Those are the actions of a responsible government for a contingency such as this. We've temporarily changed the petrol and diesel fuel standards to get more fuel flowing. We've legislated new fuel security processes and powers to allow governments to underwrite the purchase of fuel on international markets to give supply confidence and to keep buying fuel for Australia's needs. And we're engaging with international partners. Over the course of the last couple of weeks, I've met with the Japanese minister, regarding fuel supplies, and representatives of the Republic of Korea to ensure fuel supplies to Australia.

We're acting to stop price manipulation. We've doubled penalties for price gouging to $100 million. The ACCC has launched enforcement investigations into major fuel suppliers over anticompetitive behaviour. We've consulted the states and territories to develop a national fuel security plan endorsed by those governments, including LNP governments, and we've coordinated a response for supply by removing bottlenecks where they were occurring in the regions. As well as that, we've appointed a national fuel supply taskforce coordinator, who's working with the states and territories to ensure consistent supply and provide regular updates.

But, most importantly, we're consulting with the Australian people. Our MPs and senators have been working with their communities regarding supply constraints and feeding that in to the minister for energy. We're working with the states and territories energy representatives and the premiers and chief ministers. We've worked with business groups, farmers and the agricultural sector, and they are on board with the plan. The only ones who aren't on board with the plan seem to be the opposition.

This is what the Business Council of Australia's Bran Black said on 23 March:

… that's the work that Australia's companies are doing collaboratively with the government. And that's the point that I want to stress. This is a time where we really do need to adopt a 'Team Australia' moment. We need to come together, we need to be working together, we need to be collaborative, we need to be engaged and we need to recognise that it's only by being together and working together that we'll get through it.

…   …   …

… the challenges that we're experiencing are largely driven by increased demand.

That's the view of the Business Council of Australia, a peak business body.

Then we've got the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's David Alexander, who said on Monday:

Fuel supply is at a national level continuing, but obviously there are hotspots where there are gaps in distribution and the government's working to plug those gaps. …

…   …   …

… the government announced it would underwrite the purchase of oil in alternative markets. … that's a very smart move by the government.

That's the view of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

What have the National Farmers' Federation said about the government's plan? They said:

The National Farmers' Federation welcomes the appointment of Anthea Harris as the Fuel Supply Taskforce Coordinator.

…   …   …

We acknowledge the global factors at the core of these issues, and that the need for a calm and considered approach to supply chain issues is imperative in responding to global trade and import disruptions.

Even the deputy leader of the Liberal Party is on board with our changes to policy. Senator Jane Hume said recently: 'Interestingly, when you cut the fuel excise, you actually potentially reduce inflation. So the first effect is that it actually cuts inflation. It's great news for Australian families and small businesses who are going to pay less for fuel now.' Darren Chester, the Nationals leader in the House of Representatives, said:

I think from an Australian consumer's perspective, they will welcome the relief.

So we have the business community, the farming community, the Liberal Party and the National Party all on board with our government's approach to dealing with this international fuel crisis—all except the Leader of the Opposition. Isn't it ironic that the Leader of the Opposition talked about accountability? This is from the man who, when he was the energy minister, tried to hide increases in electricity prices for Australian consumers until after an election. He cannot come into this chamber and talk about accountability given his track record when it comes to electricity prices.

What our government is doing is ensuring that we are working with the Australian people. Tonight, the Prime Minister will speak to the nation, the Australian people, about the difficulties and the challenges that our nation is facing. Most importantly, he will outline the actions that our government is taking—strong actions that are collaborative with the states and territories—to ensure that we do everything we can to boost supply, to reduce prices and to remove bottlenecks.

The opposition are being critical. They have become rather hysterical over the last couple of days in their criticisms of the government. They're very good at the criticism. They're very good at parliamentary speeches. But what we haven't seen from the opposition is a plan. Where is your plan? What is your plan for the Australian people to get through this difficult situation? I'm not aware of any policies that have been released by the opposition, because they have no credible alternative plan. They have no detail, they have no pathway and they have no solution. Most importantly, they have no leadership.

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