Ted O'Brien (Fairfax, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The conflict in Iran is certainly bringing the most acute consequences of Australia's energy crisis to the fore. But let us make no mistake: the energy crisis now facing Australia did not happen overnight and it is not due to the crisis in Iran alone. This has been building for four long years under this Labor government—four years of failure of energy policy.

We have had the energy minister, with the blessing of the Prime Minister, calling on the end to all fossil fuels. Now they're hitting the phones wanting more fossil fuels. In true form, though, this government has taken no responsibility. They have pointed the finger to blame someone else. And who are they blaming? The Australian people. If the Prime Minister wants to blame the Australian people, I suggest he goes and eyeballs the farmers who don't know if they can sow this year's crop and tell them that it's their fault. Tell the tradies who can't fill up their ute that it's their fault. Tell the mums and dads who are struggling to pay for the fuel to get the kids to school that it's their fault. Alternatively, Prime Minister, start taking responsibility.