Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I stand to speak on this urgency motion. The previous contributor talked about what he thought the government's role is. Well, I can tell you what the role of the opposition is, and that is not to spread misinformation, which is what this has been about here today.

We understand that people are seeing global uncertainty and feeling worried about it at home, so let's start with the most important fact. Australia has the fuel it needs. Our national fuel stocks are above our minimum domestic fuel security obligations, and those stocks are held here in Australia. Fuel shipments continue to arrive in the country in the quantities expected. There is no national shortage of fuel. What we're seeing instead is something different. We are seeing uncertainty in global markets, and we are seeing spikes in demand in parts of Australia as some people buy more fuel than they normally would. We've seen that, and we heard it earlier today. Industry groups across the country are saying the same thing: calm heads are needed. It's not just government; it's industry groups, those on the ground listening to people in certain sectors.

If Australians continue to purchase fuel as they normally do, there will be enough supply for everyone. That's the reality. But, instead of helping calm the situation, the coalition have brought on an urgency motion in this chamber today. That says something about their priorities. In moments of global uncertainty, Australians expect leadership that reassures people and focuses on the facts—not political theatre or the spread of misinformation.

If we're going to talk honestly about fuel security in Australia, we need to talk about how we got here. Under the former government, Australian taxpayers were even paying to store emergency oil reserves in the United States—not in Australia but in the United States. The Labor government has changed that approach and has made sure that fuel security means fuel stored here in Australia, where Australians can actually access it when it is needed.

So again I say: let's talk about the facts. Australia's fuel position today is strong. On average, Australia currently has more fuel in storage than at any time over the last 15 years. We are meeting our minimum petrol stockholding obligations, and fuel shipments continue to arrive in Australia on time and in the quantities expected. I'm going to say that again. Fuel shipments continue to arrive in Australia on time and in the quantities expected. Those are the facts. That does not mean the government is complacent—far from it. We know that global instability can create pressure in supply chains, particularly in regional Australia and particularly for farmers and transport operators, and that's why the government has acted.

We have brought together fuel suppliers, fertiliser companies and agricultural peak bodies to work together on managing emerging pressures in the supply chain. We're also regularly convening the National Oil Supplies Emergency Committee, bringing together the Commonwealth, states and territories, so the country remains ready to respond quickly if conditions change. That is what responsible government looks like—not panic and not politics, but practical action. The government has also been clear about something else: this is an international crisis. It is not a commercial opportunity. Fuel companies have been told that cooperation is critical to keeping Australian transport moving and farmers growing. So I ask the opposition to stop spreading misinformation. (Time expired)