Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

While I'd rely upon my previous answer in relation to the overall approach and I understand the approach that Senator McKenzie has taken to these issues, I do want to take the issues of supply in regional communities seriously in terms of my answer to this question. It does, of course, take time for new supply to work through the supply chain—519 million litres. This is being prioritised for regional demand.

Regarding the number of petrol stations or retail outlets that are supplying agricultural businesses in particular that Senator McKenzie refers to, the government has been very purposeful and deliberately transparent about precisely what is happening in those regional communities. We know that the following actions are happening: more supply in the Riverina and into regions like Hay and Griffith; more fuel for places like Gunnedah, which had stockouts last week; more fuel for independent service in country New South Wales towns, like Orange, Wellington, West Wyalong and Lake Cargelligo; and extra actions in Dubbo and Albert, where customers are starting planting season. All of those developments are happening because of the action that the government is undertaking—and also, importantly, in cooperation with our partners in the states—to make sure that the national stockholdings make their way right through the supply chain to people who need it.