Elizabeth Watson-Brown (Ryan, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Will the Prime Minister allow a conscience vote on a 25 per cent gas export tax?

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

I belong to the Australian Labor Party, and what we're doing when it comes to these issues of energy, firstly, is securing Australia's fuel supply. The member who asked the question mightn't be conscious of the war in the Middle East and the impact that it's having on fuel supplies right around the world—not the least of which is here—but we certainly are. It's quite remarkable that today we have more petrol than we had on 28 February. We have more diesel than we had on 28 February. Indeed, we have more jet fuel than we had on 28 February as well. We have worked with industry, and, in spite of the fire at the Geelong refinery, it has exceeded expectations.

People might recall that prior to Easter we had people turning up at petrol stations, filling up jerry cans and putting them in their garage. We had businesses—

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

The member has asked a very broad question, and I know she'd appreciate a yes or no answer. But, just like every other member, I can't deliver that for her with the standing orders. Out of courtesy I'll give her the call.

Elizabeth Watson-Brown (Ryan, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order on relevance: the question was about tax, not fuel supply.

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

It was about gas exports, so the Prime Minister needs to make sure he's being directly relevant, and he is being directly relevant regarding the topic he was asked about.

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

I say to the member, with respect, that most people who've looked at this issue for more than a nanosecond recognise that the connection between Australia being a secure supplier of energy in our region is one of the things that have led to us being a secure receiver of energy in our region as well. At a time when we have a global crisis as a result of the war in the Middle East, to then just dismiss that and pretend that that is not happening is something that—it's on the news every day. It's not a secret war. It's not secret that the Strait of Hormuz is shut, and it's not secret that that is having an impact here. It is also not a secret because we have declared that this is our absolute priority. Quite frankly, the achievements that have been done with the support of industry, through Export Finance Australia, through working with our refineries and through working with our suppliers, have been quite extraordinary. I take the opportunity to thank Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, South Korea, Malaysia and China for the cooperative way in which we've delivered.

I tell you what—if someone turns up at a petrol station and there's no fuel, that's when you have a big issue, because it's so important as well for our agricultural sector. (Time expired)