Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Hansard source

As a matter of urgency, the Albanese government needs to immediately consider the nation's biofuels industry as a practical means of mitigating fuel shocks and a buffer for Australia's fuel security. The Albanese government has delayed action on biofuels for years, with various consultations held by the transport minister, Minister King, failing to result in the development of a national biofuels or low-carbon liquid-fuel strategy.

The federal government needs to put this on the agenda of their next National Cabinet. We already have two states, New South Wales and Queensland, who have ethanol mandates in place. It is absolutely this moment in time when we should be actually sourcing cleaner fuels, increasing them in our fuel supply chain, rather than relying on the government's relaxation of sulphur levels in fuel supply, letting dirtier fuels into our supply chain.

For more than 25 years, biofuels have contributed to Australia's fuel use in petrol and diesel cars, and industry has benefited. So I am calling on Chris Bowen to take the lead and take this to National Cabinet. The blame game on this fuel crisis between states and territories and the federal government needs to stop.

The Labor Party appointed a fuel tsar. Sorry, Minister Bowen; you actually are in control at this time. Ms Harris is a climate warrior. She's currently reviewing the Water Act. She has no expertise in logistics. During another similar crisis, of COVID, the former government appointed a logistics expert, Lieutenant General Frewen. That's what we need right now: to make sure that the fuel gets to where it's needed. Go to nofuelhere.com.au.