Andrew Hastie (Canning, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Industry and Sovereign Capability) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When Australians needed help at the fuel bowser, the coalition led and the Prime Minister followed. Australian families, tradies and small businesses will now pay less for fuel because the coalition acted first. But, without offsets in the budget, Labor's spending will drive inflation higher and will cut into people's purchasing power even further. But the issue here is that fuel security is vital to our economy and the ADF. That's why fuel security is national security, and that's why the Prime Minister needs to start leading. But we have no transparency from this government. We don't know how many ships are coming to Australia, we don't know where there are shortages in our supply and we don't know what the plan is to refuel our service stations.

Across the Tasman, the New Zealand government is leading. The New Zealand government is being transparent. It's updating its people on fuel supplies inside their country, on fuel inside the economic exclusion zone and on fuel shipments on the way from Asia. Where's that level of detail from this prime minister? What is the plan for next week and beyond? What's the plan for when the pressure really builds on the Australian people? When will you be transparent about the state of our fuel supplies? In a crisis, Australians expect strength, leadership and clarity. Right now, on all measures, the Prime Minister is failing to lead and failing to be transparent with the Australian people.

Zaneta Mascarenhas (Swan, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I know that people have been feeling pain at the fuel pump. That is why the Albanese Labor government has taken 26c off fuel per litre by halving the fuel tax. This is timely and targeted relief. I know that those opposite might like to think that it's all their idea, but I'll let you know that the backbench of the great Labor Party is also very active in making sure that we are prosecuting great ideas to help our constituents. Not only are we helping households; we're also helping truckies. That's because we're cutting the heavy vehicle road user charge. Yes, that's 32c off fuel per litre. We're doing this because we want to keep people moving. We also want to back farmers to keep on producing, and we want to help truckies get the produce to the shops.

But this is not the only thing we're doing. I know that in Perth, in my electorate, there was a petrol station selling diesel at $3.97 a litre, but that was an accident. Unfortunately, it was a typo. They meant to enter $2.97, and they will be refunding customers not just a dollar but $1.04. I see this as a timely reminder to all fuel stations. The nation is watching. If you intentionally gouge Australians, you will be found out and the ACCC—you will feel the full force of the law.

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

In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.