Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Minister, yesterday you insisted that there is no fuel supply shortage. Today on the front page of the Australian Financial Review, Western Australian farmer Nick Emin said:

Chris Bowen—

the Minister for Climate Change and Energy—

was saying there's still no issues, and the next phone call I get is from our fuel supply saying there's no orders available.

Minister, why are Australians like Nick running out of fuel?

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Not only did I say and do I say that Australia's fuel supply is secure; every honourable member should say that, because that's the truth. The responsible truth to tell the Australian people is that we continue to receive fuel supplies as expected. In the last 10 days, fuel supplies have arrived in Australia in Townsville, Brisbane, Cairns, Broome, Geelong, Gore Bay, Kwinana, Gladstone and Mackay. Those fuel supplies have been coming in as expected. At least 16 vessels have already arrived this month, and there are many more on the way, with 25 to 30 more vessels expected this month. The chief executives I've spoken to today have told me that there are no indications that that fuel won't arrive.

In addition, we have the minimum stock obligation fuel supplies, which, contrary to what the Deputy Premier of Queensland so irresponsibly told Queenslanders and Australians yesterday, have not been accessed and are still there to be called upon if and when necessary. So it is the responsible thing to do to say to Australians that our fuel supplies are secure. At the same time, we have acknowledged that we are facing supply chain issues in regional Australia in particular and that we've seen demand for the Perth terminal, for example, increase by 165 per cent. Regardless of who is in office, regardless of what petrol companies are doing, that will put pressure on, and we should be honest about that. That will put pressure on supply, and we will see localised shortages, and we are. But we should also reassure Australians that industry and government working together can ensure that the supply of fuel to Australians is secure and there is no need for panic buying.

We've paid our thanks to the member for Maranoa, who has said something very similar, and he has behaved responsibly. Not every honourable member opposite has taken the same approach. When honourable members opposite question whether Australia's supply of fuel is secure, they are undermining the national interest, because our fuel supply is secure.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My point of order goes to direct relevance. The minister was asked: why are Australians like Nick running out of fuel? I'd like you to come back and answer that question.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has been providing a lot of information regarding the direct question that he was asked, including the amount of fuel, the terminals, where it's—

Opposition members interjecting—

Order! If you want me to deal with a point of order, it's not going to help if everyone's yelling at me. If the minister is providing direct information about how much and where it's arrived—and I've listened carefully to what he is saying—he is being directly relevant. Maybe you want more information. I can't make him provide more information to you. I wish I could, but I don't have that magic power. I only have the power that the standing orders allow me. He is being directly relevant and I'm going to ask him to remain directly relevant for the remaining 27 seconds.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. When we're faced with an international crisis, it is not an economic opportunity or a business opportunity, and nor is it a political opportunity. It is a responsibility to work together—government and industry and, where possible, government and opposition. As I've said before, if the opposition has a constructive suggestion to make, I'll listen to it with open ears.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business is seeking to raise a point of order. It had better not be a frivolous point of order—

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's not.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind the manager that he's also got the matter of public importance today.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Speaker, I seek leave to table the front page of the Australian Financial Review, which has—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat.

An honourable member interjecting—

That's fine. Of course. That's why I like to check everything and make sure we're doing it properly. The manager is not to hold the newspaper up and use it as a prop, which he did then to try and get a photograph taken of himself, which is highly disorderly. The Leader of the House?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is not granted.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I remind the Manager of Opposition Business one more time that he has the MPI today, and I'm sure he wants to be here to discuss it.

Mary Doyle (Aston, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Can the minister update the House on Australia's fuel supply? What actions pose a risk to Australia's fuel security?

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank my honourable friend for the question. I can inform the member for Aston and the House that our fuel supplies remain in a good position, with 1.56 billion litres of petrol in our minimum stock obligation, three billion litres of diesel and 800 million litres of jet fuel, and also that fuel continues to arrive in Australia in the predicted way and at the predicted level, and that supply to Australia remains good. I can also report to the House that our two refineries are working well. They are responsible for around 20 per cent of the country's fuel demand, and, while it would have been better if we had six, we do have two and they are providing a very valuable role as we supply fuel across the country.

As the government have always said, we are not discounting the risks in the market internationally, but we enter this crisis very well prepared, and that is what Australians can be reassured of. We are seeing very big increases in demand, particularly in regional areas. Let me make it very clear: I understand why Australians would be concerned, particularly if they see misinformation online, and I understand why they may be tempted to buy extra fuel. That is very understandable. But our message to Australians is: buy as much fuel as you need—not less, not more. That is an important and responsible message that any member of parliament, I think, would be encouraged to deliver.

What is not understandable is any Australian who seeks to capitalise on this—and I've seen on Facebook Marketplace people selling jerry cans of fuel at inflated prices. I've seen people—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm going to take action against the member for Herbert, who continues to interject nonstop. He will leave the chamber under standing order 94(a).

The member for Herbert then left the chamber.

The minister is now going to be heard in silence. There's far too much noise in the chamber.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I've seen people who can access fuel buying way too much fuel and selling it on Facebook Marketplace and other places, no doubt. I'm sure that is dangerous. As I said yesterday, it is not without risk to fill up jerry cans and sell them online. It is a risk to fuel security as well.

As I said, it's incumbent on all honourable members across the board to send that responsible message. I have seen that the South Australian Liberal leader, whose name is Ashton Hurn, has been heard saying, 'If I could give you two bits of advice, No. 1 would be "vote Liberal" and No. 2 would be "fill up your tank sooner rather than later."' I think both of those bits of advice are bad, but the second one is dangerous and irresponsible. If anybody thinks they want to hold high office in Australia, whether it be at this level of government or at the state level, giving advice to panic buy should disqualify them from office in Australia. It is irresponsible, it is wrong and it is factually incorrect.