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

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Australia's fuel supply relies on Middle East oil shipped to refineries in Asia. Minister, how many oil tankers have left the Middle East for refineries in Asia since 28 February?

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 the question. There are currently more than 53 ships on their way to Australia from refineries around the world—Asia, the United States, Mexico and other places. I can confirm that 3.7 billion litres are contracted legally to arrive in Australia over April. We've been very clear that there are risks in the supply chain—because it is true. Asia gets the majority of its oil from the Middle East through the Strait of Hormuz. That is true. That's why we've taken the actions we have taken, like releasing more of the minimum stock obligation and, most particularly, introducing the legislation that will pass the Senate this evening. That's why—to be prepared. Asian refineries don't just supply Australia; they supply Asia, too. That's how it generally works. Of course, we've been in constant contact—the Prime Minister, the Foreign minister and I—with our respective counterparts, and we're very pleased with the way those conversations have gone.