Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Richmond very much for her question. She well knows the challenges that we all—communities but particularly the aviation industry—face because of the conflict in the Middle East and the importance of the aviation industry in keeping our communities connected. We are working very closely with the aviation industry to ensure that they have the fuel they need to keep communities well connected and Australians are able to do what they love, continue to travel, spend time with families and connect for work.

Last week, the government secured more than a hundred million litres of jet fuel from China, resulting in four additional days of jet fuel being added to our national reserve. This didn't happen by accident or because, some way or another, China suddenly decided that they would supply that jet fuel. It has resulted as part of the government's work to stabilise relations with China. Our prime minister continues to have open and constructive conversations with Premier Li, and it has led to Australia being one of the few countries to secure additional jet fuel supplies—because of the work on the relationship that we have done.

It is these constructive relationships that continue to place Australia in the strongest possible position during times of uncertainty. It builds, of course, on those earlier announcements of securing fuel supplies across South-East Asia and bringing the total additional jet fuel secured to 200 million litres, with 600 million litres of additional diesel. These shipments provide important certainty for the aviation industry. We continue to meet regularly with them to make sure that there is clear and consistent communication about our strategic reserves and that they are put to good use throughout this Middle Eastern conflict.

But we also know that being entirely reliant on overseas jet fuel supplies is simply not sustainable. Right now, Aussie farmers are producing crops like canola and shipping it overseas to be turned into biofuel, only for us to then buy it back. As I've said time and time again, this is, frankly, nuts. We should be producing sustainable aviation fuels here in Australia with Australian canola. That's why our government has made a $1.1 billion investment in developing an onshore sustainable aviation fuel industry.

And it's not just in the fuel space that we're supporting aviation. We worked quickly to ensure Rex could continue to operate through its administration and supported the successful sale. On Sunday, I announced that more than $4.8 million in support is being delivered to local councils and regional and remote airports to ensure that the debts that they were owed by Rex were repaid so that those important local airports could continue to operate for the communities that they support. Keeping Australians connected even in times of international uncertainty is important work that the government is getting on with.

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