Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

First, in relation to Cyclone Narelle, the government will continue to provide support and assistance as necessary for natural disasters. I know that my colleague Senator McCarthy may be able to say something about that later, in the context of her communities. But what I do want to respond to is, obviously, what is happening on fuel and the station in question that the senator referred to. We are dealing with a continuing and unprecedented shock to global energy markets. It is the largest in history. The government are taking practical action, and we will take more.

I will say, as I started to outline yesterday, that the conflict is likely—should it continue—to impact on our economy in direct and indirect ways. It's presenting challenges to regional communities, including the petrol station that you describe. It's presenting challenges to industries. It's presenting challenges to global markets. What we do say is we need to work together, and the government have acted already to release up to 20 per cent of our diesel fuel reserves to work to address regional shortages. We've amended fuel standards to keep more fuel made here in Australia for Australians to use. We've stood up a fuel supply taskforce in the Prime Minister's department, and the Prime Minister has convened National Cabinet to work together on fuel security, and that work will continue.