Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Yesterday the Prime Minister told ABC Melbourne 'fuel supplies have not been disrupted'. Tonight the Prime Minister will deliver an emergency address to the nation. Prime Minister, what has changed since yesterday?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Nothing has changed since yesterday—neither this government's resolve to deal with issues of supply and the cost of living nor the opposition's approach to these issues, which are outlined in their talking points that are out there for all to see. Their talking points suggested that, rather than act responsibly, what they would do was talk up issues that are facing Australians. The issues are real. The war in the Middle East is real.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! Members on my left will allow the Prime Minister to update the House on this issue.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The war in the Middle East is absolutely real, and that is why I certainly agree with the statement, which is real as well. I'm actually talking to Andrew Hastie, the deputy Liberal leader in the House of Representatives, who said—and this will be consistent with what I will say tonight—this is where every Australian has to just keep calm and carry on, and do what they can to look after themselves and their neighbours. We've got a lot of oil and gas and other precious commodities trapped in the Persian Gulf behind the Strait of Hormuz, so until the war is resolved we're going to feel supply pressures. That was real when the member for Canning said it. It's real when every member of the government understands it. But it's also real to say that every single shipload of fuel that was due to come here in March arrived on schedule. That is absolutely true.

What is required at times like this is to be considered, be orderly and work through issues—not to pretend there aren't challenges. The government doesn't pretend that; they're being faced by the entire world, whether they be issues of supply down the track or whether they be income pressures that are on people. That's why we've acted on both of those issues in a responsible and orderly way, which is how my government operates here.

Mary Doyle (Aston, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government helping to shield Australians from the worst of the impacts of the war in the Middle East?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the fantastic member for Aston, who, three years ago today, became the first government member to win a seat off the opposition in the House of Representatives in 100 years, and then turned that victory in a by-election into being re-elected as the member for Aston last May.

The war in the Middle East has caused the biggest spike in global fuel prices in history, and Australians are feeling and seeing that across the economy. I know people are doing it tough, which is why we've acted to make a real difference.

From today, we've halved the fuel excise, directly helping families and businesses save 26c per litre at the pump. We're backing truckies, slashing the heavy vehicle road user charge to zero and making sure that they get paid fairly and on time, with the legislation we brought before the parliament just last week. Australia's national strategic reserve is now law, so shiploads of fuel, fertiliser and other essentials can flow into our economy. We're giving small businesses more economic breathing room and support through the Australian Taxation Office and the measures that we've taken there. Leaders across state and federal jurisdictions have adopted the National Fuel Security Plan. Importantly, it's been adopted across the political spectrum by the eight states and territories, as well as the Commonwealth, so we're ready for what may come in an orderly way. We're planning and making sure that we put those procedures in place.

No government can eliminate all of the pressure, which is on right around the world. That's just the truth, and we're being straight with people about that. There are challenges ahead, but, no matter what the world throws at us, we can take action and we will continue to take action. We'll do it in the Australian way, backing in our national interest, securing our economic resilience and making sure that any measures we take to deal with short-term issues also set us up to be more resilient in the future. We're learning the lessons that are there from being at the end of supply chains and making sure that we deliver real support to people that makes a positive difference as well. We're navigating those rough seas that are there at the moment, but we always have our eyes on the horizon—on the future—as well.

Angus Taylor (Hume, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to his previous answers. On Monday, the Prime Minister's statements included: 'Australia's fuel supply outlook remains secure' and 'There is more fuel available today than there was prior to the war commencing.' Since then, has the government received advice about any additional fuel carriers bound for Australia that have been delayed or cancelled?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The advice that I gave the parliament on Monday was correct. Every single ship that was due to arrive here in March arrived. That is a fact. Of the 81 ships that were due to arrive here in April, six were cancelled. They were more than replaced by six plus three—nine—additional ships arriving. In addition to that, of course, extra fuel is available from that produced here, because what we did was change the standards for both petrol and diesel so that every bit of fuel that's produced here is kept here domestically. That adds to supply as we go through. We continue to engage with our international partners as well. A range of further discussions will take place over future days, including over Easter. We'll continue to engage with our partners. We're a reliable supplier of energy security around our region. We expect that to be reciprocated.