Alison Penfold (Lyne, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Yesterday the minister insisted that there is no fuel supply shortage. The Dorney family in Bulahdelah run two timber mills, multiple hauling and felling crews, and a fleet of logging and freight trucks. In one week alone, their daily fuel costs have increased by $7,800. Their supplier says the problem is not panic buying but fuel shortages at terminals and rationing between customers. Minister, under your watch, why are Australians like the Dorney family, and their business, running out of fuel?

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

As we've said consistently this week, we recognise fully that, in regional areas in particular, there are shortages and that the supply chain is under huge pressure, as we've seen a massive increase in demand. That has been our consistent position. It remains our consistent position. We've been very clear that no-one in the fuel supply chain should seek business or economic benefit out of that. Today the Treasurer and I have worked very closely together with the ACCC to ensure that ACCC penalties are increased for the sorts of behaviour that see people—if anyone is—trying to exploit that situation for their own financial gain. The ACCC will deal with it.

In relation to the honourable member's question, it's also necessary—and, I would have thought, it's in the interests of the honourable member's community—for all of us to point out that fuel continues to come into Australia at the expected level and that our fuel supply stockholdings are good, which they weren't previously. Before 2023, when we instituted the minimum stock obligation, whatever holdings we held were in Texas, and we would be in a very difficult position if that was the case. We would be in a difficult position if that was still the case.

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why don't you do your job?

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

The Leader of the Opposition—the member for Hume—says absolute nonsense. It's a fact. They were held in Texas while you were the minister. While the member for Hume was the minister, our fuel supplies were held in Texas. You know that they hold records. You know that they keep records of these things. The records also show that we now keep the minimum stock obligation in Geelong and Brisbane. It is accessible if we need to access it, which it wasn't when the member for Hume held my position.