Brendan Nelson Bradfield, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition
2:00 pm
My question is to the Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism. Why did the minister originally advise his colleagues that Labor’s Fuelwatch scheme is anticompetitive, will hurt small business and will slug motorists hardest in areas like Western Sydney?
Martin Ferguson Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy
I thank the honourable member for the question. It is a very serious question going to a problem confronting not only Australia but also the global community. It goes to the fact that the global community at the moment is experiencing huge increases in the price of fuel which are a reflection of high oil prices. It is simply a question of demand outstripping supply. In that context, can I also say to the House, it is about time the Australian community understood that this little problem did not eventuate in the last six months.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! The minister will resume his seat. The Leader of the Opposition has asked a question. The minister is responding to the question. The minister will be heard in silence.
Martin Ferguson Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy
This problem has not eventuated since 24 November last year. The Rudd government has been seeking to do everything possible to work out not only short-term solutions but also medium- and long-term solutions.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation
What have you done?
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! The member for Dickson and the member for Paterson!
Martin Ferguson Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy
The facts show that last week the world benchmark West Texas crude oil price hit US$135 per barrel. It is interesting to note that this means that the benchmark price of crude has more than doubled in the last 12 months. You are also no doubt aware—and it obviously crosses the member for Mayo’s mind from time to time—that the price of crude oil has increased by more than 400 per cent since the Iraq war. It is for those very reasons that the government has been doing everything possible to actually try and work out not only the best possible response in terms of consumers’ immediate demands and challenges but also a medium- to long-term strategy, which goes to a very serious alternative fuel debate—
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation
Why did you change your mind?
Martin Ferguson Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy
that was neglected time and time again by the previous government. It is in that context—
Tony Smith Casey, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training
Mr Anthony Smith interjecting
Martin Ferguson Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy
and as part of a normal cabinet process that views are tested, and the best policy comes out of open and robust debate. I simply say that I fully support the cabinet decision on FuelWatch.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! Those on my left will sit in silence and listen to the response to the Leader of the Opposition’s question.
Martin Ferguson Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy
Fuelwatch, in association with additional powers to the ACCC and to put a cop on the beat, represents the best available option for the Australian community at the moment in a very tough global market. It guarantees that consumers have transparency in petrol prices and it gives to consumers the best available information about when and where to buy petrol. Consumers understand that prices are principally a reflection of record world oil prices, and they expect government, as the Rudd government has done, to explore all available options to assist them to deal with the rising cost of oil. That is what the cabinet debates have been about and that is why we have made a range of very serious decisions to try and assist motorists at the petrol bowser. I simply say that I contend that all consumers will ultimately benefit from a national Fuelwatch scheme wherever they live in Sydney, or in any other major metropolitan city.
Tony Smith Casey, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training
He said that with a straight face!
Christopher Pyne Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
You are too good for this, Martin!
Martin Ferguson Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy
I might also say that it is not only about government looking at short-term solutions to assist motorists; it is also about government trying to put in place a medium- to long-term strategy. That is about a long-term plan going to Australia’s energy security. Just as we are making some hard decisions at the moment to try and assist motorists in the short-term—
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The member for O’Connor will leave the chamber for one hour.
Martin Ferguson Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy
we are also doing something that the Howard government failed to do over 12 long years.
Martin Ferguson Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy
Another area of very serious neglect by the Howard government—
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House
2:07 pm
I move:
That the member for O’Connor be suspended from the service of the House.
Question put.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
The member for O’Connor is suspended from the service of the House for 24 hours under standing order 94.
Wilson Tuckey O'Connor, Liberal Party
You have just undermined my high opinion of you.
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! The honourable member for O’Connor might go back to his position and apologise to the chair.
Wilson Tuckey O'Connor, Liberal Party
I am suspended.
The member for O’Connor then left the chamber.
Martin Ferguson Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy
I say in conclusion—
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation
Tell us why you sold out your constituents.
Martin Ferguson Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy
I say in conclusion that, unlike the member for Dickson, I actually have the privilege of serving in a cabinet, not the outer ministry.
Peter Dutton Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Finance, Competition Policy and Deregulation
Mr Dutton interjecting
Martin Ferguson Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy
Those cabinet discussions have been and will continue to be robust debate, because the best policy comes out of a free and frank exchange of ideas. I started that process based on my view of the best possible means of assisting consumers in Australia at a very difficult time. As a result of that process, and on the evidence of the ACCC, I was convinced that there was a better way forward. I fully support the decision of the government not only to introduce Fuelwatch but to do everything possible to assist consumers in the short term and also in the medium to long term. This is not just about fuel prices today; this is about out future energy security as a nation in the 21st century. It is something the Howard government neglected over a period of 12 long years. Neglect, neglect, neglect!
Chris Pearce Aston, Liberal Party
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Given that this issue is about ‘fuelgate’, could I ask the minister to table the documents from which he was reading?
Martin Ferguson Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy
Yes, I did refer to documents, Mr Speaker.
Martin Ferguson Batman, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Resources and Energy
They are of a confidential nature.