Lisa Darmanin (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The government is under no illusion that the spike in fuel prices as a result of the war in the Middle East is causing financial stress and placing serious pressure on Australian households and businesses. But there is not one single solution, and responding effectively requires actions and coordination at every level of government. Families are feeling it at the bowser, and businesses—particularly transport, agriculture and those in regional communities—are feeling it. That is, of course, the driver of this urgency motion.

This is a global crisis driven by instability well beyond Australia's control. Nonetheless, this global crisis requires a national response, and that is exactly what this government is delivering. This morning, the Prime Minister convened National Cabinet to ensure national coordination and a unified approach that ensures we are prepared for any circumstance. In this period of instability, the federal government's immediate priority is fuel security. We are securing the supply, keeping distribution moving and ensuring essential services can continue.

I think it is also important to be clear about roles and responsibilities. Public transport is a responsibility of state and federal governments. They set services and fares. Where states have the capacity to act, we are already seeing them step up. It's pleasing to see, in my own state of Victoria, that the Allan Labor government has announced that all metropolitan and V-line public transport will be free from this Tuesday, tomorrow, until 30 April. I congratulate the state Labor government for that. And Tasmania has announced that public transport, including buses and ferries, will be free statewide starting today and going through to 1 July 2026. These are sensible temporary measures that can help take the pressure off families now, and we also welcome the other states that are looking at what they can do in the circumstances that they see themselves in.

However, we know that this won't solve every problem, because we know public transport is not the answer for everyone, particularly in regional areas and for workers in the cities and suburbs who need to drive—blue-collar workers, in-home aged-care workers, even hairdressers. But free public transport and reduced public transport costs will make a difference in the immediate term for those who rely on public transport and those who can take the train or the bus instead of using their cars. When those of us who are able in the cities and suburbs to reduce our fuel consumption do so, we are freeing up supply for those in regional and remote communities and for workers who cannot use public transport in their daily jobs. This is the Australian way—all of us doing our bit in the way that we can to support our communities as a whole.

Whilst this motion sparks an interesting debate, let's look at the extensive action taken by this government to address the immediate challenges facing us right now as a nation. As the Treasurer said this morning, while we cannot choose what is happening in the Middle East, we can choose how we respond as a federal government here at home. That is why the government announced today that we are halving the fuel excise for three months, starting on Wednesday. This will reduce petrol and diesel prices by 26.3c per litre, providing immediate relief to households and businesses. We are also reducing the heavy-vehicle user charge to zero for the same three-month period to ease pressure on freight, food supply chains and essential transport. And of course these announcements are in addition to the measures that we have already announced.

The government has already released 20 per cent of the minimum stockholding obligation for petrol and diesel, with a focus on getting fuel to regional communities where it is needed. And we have appointed a fuel supply taskforce coordinator to work directly with industry to help keep fuel flowing where it is needed. We have amended fuel standards to bring more supply onto the market and we have passed legislation to strengthen the ACCC's powers, doubling penalties for companies that unfairly jack up fuel prices. This is in addition to the other things that have already been spoken about many times in this chamber today. All of this is about taking the sting out of a very difficult period. So while free public transport can play a role where states choose to implement it, the national task before us is bigger than any single measure. Our job is to ensure fuel security, protect essential services, support households and businesses and respond to this global crisis with a coordinated national approach—and that is exactly what this government is doing.