Jessica Collins (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Here we are yet again standing before the government and seeking answers to questions on where the fuel is. We hear again that we have more supply than ever, but we know—we Australians know—that there are 870 fuel stations out there that have run out of supply. But, no—'There is more fuel supply than ever.' We are five weeks into this fuel crisis, and finally the government has admitted that they've got to do something about it. So let's just run over what the plan is that they've got—the plan for the plan that they've got—for this fuel crisis. I tell you what: you could not make this stuff up.

Four stages—they come in four stages. The first is 'plan and prepare'. The government in charge is now saying today they've got to plan and prepare for this fuel crisis. Stage No. 2—we've got to 'keep Australia moving'. Well, let's just hope that they do that by Good Friday, so that all the good Australians can go off on their holiday with their families and get the fuel that they need to take their kids away for the weekend. Stage No. 3 is 'taking targeted action' because obviously it's not clear enough to the government that there are people—farmers, truckies—out in the regions that can't get their fuel. Twenty-five per cent of Australian farmers are saying that they are either reducing or not planting this season. They already made that decision weeks ago, and here we have the government of the day saying that phase No. 3 is taking targeted action. Then No. 4 is 'protecting critical services for all Australians'.

Well, let me just walk you through the questions that we asked of this government today. Before I do that, I want to ask a question of this government—perhaps a better reflection on this. Why has it all taken today—to come up with this plan for a plan? And why can't they do it all at once? Why does it have to be staged across four different phases? It makes no sense to me. Meanwhile, the good Australian people out there are hurting. They can't get access to the fuel, and they're staring down the barrel of not being able to take their families away this Easter.

Let me just talk you through the reality of what's happening out there. We asked questions of the government about whether they could guarantee that, by Good Friday, those 870 bowsers that have run dry will be refilled. There was no guarantee—none.

We asked them about harvesting, whether our farmers would be able to get the diesel that they need during a time at which they need more diesel than at any other time during the year, whether they could get the fertiliser that they need—for which, by the way, prices have doubled over the past few weeks. No answer—but, remember, there's no need to panic. That's what the government says—'Don't panic; we'll get through this with our plan for a plan.'

We asked about the jet fuel prices, which have increased by 70 per cent over the past few weeks—no answer. We asked about health care. By the way, the Rural Doctors Association are saying that everyday Australians are having to make life-or-death decisions because they can't get access to fuel. (Time expired)

Question agreed to.