Jamie Chaffey (Parkes, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. In his last answer, the minister said there were 53 ships on their way to Australia. The minister said two days ago that there were around 81 ships scheduled to arrive in April. How many ships does the minister expect to arrive in Australia in the month of May?

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

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

Order! The member was heard in silence. He wants an answer to the question, and the minister now has the call.

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

I thank the member for his question. I'll set it out as clearly as I can. There are currently more than 53 ships on their way to Australia. The arrival of some is imminent. Others are just leaving the refineries as we speak. So that's an average. Of course, a ship from the United States takes about a month to get here. It's a lot quicker than that from Singapore and Malaysia. So that comparison the honourable member has made is just not a fair comparison. It's apples and oranges. We do expect, on average, 81 ships a month to arrive. That's a historical average. That is the case, and all the evidence is that that will continue well into May now. That's why we keep giving the Australian people those factual updates—so that they have that. And I can confirm there is 3.7 billion litres on the water to Australia as we speak.

The member for Lyne asked me before about deliveries out of the Middle East to Asia. I can say around 46 ships have left the Middle East through the Strait of Hormuz since this conflagration broke out. That is way down on pre-conflict levels. That should not come as a surprise to the honourable member. That's why we're taking such actions as we're taking. Also, Saudi Arabia have increased their exports from the port of Yanbu so they don't have to go through the Strait of Hormuz. I've been in contact with my colleague and friend the Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Prince Abdulaziz Al Saud. He has obviously had plenty to do over the recent months. I've had that relationship with him through my role in international discussions, which is a good thing for Australia, I submit—and we'll continue. We'll continue. The Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and I will continue to engage with all our counterparts.