Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I first acknowledge Senator Sterle's ongoing efforts to do charity work in the Kimberley region. It's something I greatly admire. However, in terms of his contribution in this debate, Senator Sterle wants to shoot the messenger, as those opposite want to do. We are raising issues with fuel supply in our home states, and I can tell you what is happening in my home state of Queensland. Here is a direct quote from Mr Pavo Walker of Walker Seafoods in Queensland. Walker Seafoods in Queensland is the largest harvester fishery dealing with the capture of wild tuna in my home state of Queensland. They have five vessels, six skippers and over 50 staff, so they're a substantial organisation. They catch and process export-grade tuna. This is what Mr Pavo Walker of Walker Seafoods in Queensland says:

… the Eastern Seaboard of Australia is running out of fuel … noone can guarantee us any fuel for our fishing vessels … We've got no fuel so we can't go to sea and we can't catch fish.

Do you want direct evidence of people running out of fuel? How's that for direct evidence? The chief executive officer of Walker Seafoods in Queensland, who run five vessels, six skippers and over 50 staff, says they do not have the fuel to go out to sea to catch fish. That's the issue, and no-one can tell them when they are going to get the fuel. There is a fuel supply problem. That is what people in my home state of Queensland are telling me.

I'd also like to quote from the Deputy Premier of Queensland. This is what he says about the federal government response, because the Deputy Premier of Queensland is at the front line of trying to deal with all of the tsunami of inquiries that are coming in from the agricultural sector and the fisheries sector into the state government. This is what the Deputy Premier of Queensland says:

Supply of fuel is a federal responsibility and the federal Labor government have not been doing enough.

Further on, he said:

We are absolutely calling on the federal government to explain how much fuel supply is in Queensland, where it's being distributed and guarantee that the bowsers will be full.

That's what the Deputy Premier of Queensland is calling upon the Labor government to do.

It is our obligation to the people of our home states to come into this place and to hold the federal government accountable for its responsibility with respect to fuel supply. We wouldn't be doing our job if we weren't telling the story of Mr Pavo Walker of Walker Seafoods or if my friend Senator Matt O'Sullivan from Western Australia weren't telling the story of the owner of the roadhouse which has run out of fuel in regional Western Australia. It's our obligation to hold the government to account. It's our obligation to convey to the government what is happening on the ground, and this is happening on the ground.

So don't come into this place and tell us that we're the ones spreading misinformation. How absurd! Pick up the phone, if you like, and ring Mr Pavo Walker of Walker Seafoods and have the conversation with him. Tell him about misinformation. He has five trawlers, all in dock waiting for fuel. He can't take them to sea. He has six skippers and 50 staff, all ready, willing and able to actually generate wealth for this country, but they can't get the fuel. There is a major problem at the moment. It is demonstrated, indicated and evidenced by the facts, so don't come into this place and shoot the messenger. Actually focus on doing your job, and your job is to manage the fuel supply in this country. If you have the fuel stocks that Senator Sterle referred to, why are we having these problems? Why are we having these problems in regional Queensland? When the conflict broke out in the Middle East and when the Strait of Hormuz was closed, you should have anticipated that there would be a change in the pattern of demand, as the leader of the Senate referred to. Of course there was going to be a change in the pattern of demand. It always happens when you have fuel shortages and conflicts in relation to major fuel-supplying countries—when the price goes through the roof. You should have anticipated that, and you should now be held accountable for failing to manage it. (Time expired)