Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Has the minister sought or received advice from his department on the implementation of fuel rationing?

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

I thank the honourable member for her question. Of course I have engaged with my department in prudent contingency planning. As I indicated again on the weekend, the establishment of a national fuel emergency would be a very significant step—it's never been done, and that's what would be required. However, states have considerable powers, and that's why that's outlined in the National Liquid Fuel Emergency Response Plan, which was agreed by COAG in 2006. That indicates that voluntary restraint—i.e. public information campaigns requesting people to save fuel—would be the first step, and that only after that would any further actions be considered. I made clear yesterday that I think we're a long way from that, but of course the Commonwealth and the states will work together for prudent contingency planning in a very challenged international environment.