Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The conflict in the Middle East is having real consequences here at home. It's pushing up global fuel prices and putting pressure on Australian families, farmers and small businesses. I want families and businesses in the community I represent to know that I hear them and the government is acting to provide them with as much support as possible. We're acting to ensure that we can continue to supply fuel to the Australian market and that prices are as low as possible. We're keeping fuel flowing and helping shield household budgets from the worst of the global uncertainty. We're working to get more fuel into the country and to get it where it needs to go.

An essential part of the response is direct cost-of-living relief. From today, we've halved the fuel excise on petrol and diesel for the next three months. That's cutting the price of fuel by 26.3c per litre. It's immediate practical support for Australians under pressure. We've also cut the heavy vehicle road user charge to zero for three months, helping truckies continue their vital work keeping shelves stocked and supply chains running.

We've been clear that producers and importers must pass these savings on. The Treasurer has written to the ACCC, which is now ramping up monitoring, issuing on-the-spot fines and launching enforcement investigations into major suppliers. If fuel companies think that they can take Australians for mugs, they'll have the book thrown at them.

National Cabinet has agreed to a National Fuel Security Plan to coordinate a consistent response across the Commonwealth, states and territories. Australia is currently at level 2, 'Keeping Australia moving', and we'll continue to adjust our response as needed. This plan ensures that governments and industry are working together to keep our economy open and our communities supplied.

We've released 20 per cent of the nation's fuel reserves, targeted at regional areas. That's about 760 million litres. We've temporarily changed petrol and diesel standards to get more fuel flowing, and we've appointed a Fuel Supply Taskforce Coordinator, Anthea Harris, to strengthen coordination across government sectors.

We're engaging closely with international partners, including Singapore, Korea, Malaysia and Japan, to keep supply lines open. We've spent every day since we came to office working to strengthen our international relationships, particularly in the region.

We're confronting this challenge from a position of strength—low unemployment, solid economic growth and a budget in far better shape than the one we inherited. But we're not complacent. The Treasury is modelling different scenarios, and we're preparing for anything that may come. Our message is simple: Australians should buy the fuel that they need and no more than that. Every Australian can play their part, and the Albanese government will continue working around the clock to protect families, support regional communities and keep Australia moving.

Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In accordance with standing order 193, the time for members' constituency statements has concluded.