David Batt (Hinkler, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. Taxi operators in my electorate of Hinkler are questioning whether the government can guarantee reliable diesel supplies to keep wheelchair-accessible taxis on the road. Minister, how did the government allow the fuel crisis to get so bad that essential transport for vulnerable Australians is now under threat?

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 his question and, of course, we thank the taxi operators in his electorate for the service they provide to the people in that electorate, like all of our electorates, who require special assistance. That is the reason why we've worked so hard to ensure fuel security in Australia. The honourable member, I'm sure, would inform his taxi operators that the supply of fuel to Australia continues at the rate we would expect. But, as this government has always said from the beginning of this crisis internationally, there have been real shortages in regional Australia, and we've worked hard to ensure that those shortages are dealt with. For example, in Queensland, at the two relevant terminals for parts of Queensland, Gladstone petrol sales are up 48 per cent during the month of March and Mackay sales are up 55 per cent during the month of March compared to the previous March. That tells me two things. When sales out of a terminal are up so much, that means the demand continues to be very high but the supply is much higher as well. That is certainly the case.

I can say that, with the release of the minimum stockholding obligation, which the government instituted with the requirement that that be delivered to regional Australia, for example, one company has increased its sales by approximately 200 kilolitres a day in Brisbane to wholesalers; in the Central Queensland and Mackay regions, an additional 300 kilolitres has been allocated to three local regional distributors to supply mining and rail customers in Far North and North Queensland; and an additional 15 per cent allocation is flowing to support Indigenous communities in Cape York. These are the sorts of opportunities that have been taken up as a result of that.

Again, as the Prime Minister and I have both made repeatedly clear to members opposite, if you have constituents you'd like us to pay particular attention to, to speak with about their particular needs, if there have been shortages, and to put in contact with the relevant fuel companies—I've done that in plenty of instances with honourable members opposite. The Prime Minister is willing to do it. If the honourable member wants to provide me with details, I'd be very happy to take up the case, find out who the distributors are and provide that company with as much reassurance as I can.

Again, we know that those shortages have caused real concern. I again express my thanks to the taxi companies and transport operators right around Australia, who are finding this situation very stressful. I thank them for the work they're doing for those Australians who rely on them. Many elderly people rely on taxis and many people with disabilities rely on taxis, and we'll do everything we can to support those industries.