Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

The government won't be supporting the suspension of standing orders, and I acknowledge the wide-ranging contribution on the topic more broadly.

I completely reject the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate's assertion around the government and the government's response. We have been continuously responding to the situation as it unfolds as a consequence of a conflict in the Middle East and the impact that that's having both here on fuel prices at home and in putting pressure on industries, including farmers and small business. The government has responded and will continue to respond. The criticism of the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate around a meeting of National Cabinet—it is appropriate that the National Cabinet meet today. It is an important meeting, bringing together the states and territories and the Prime Minister to discuss fuel supply and distribution, as it impacts every community around Australia.

Since the conflict has started, the government has convened National Cabinet today but also previously. We've passed new laws to double penalties for petrol companies for false or misleading conduct and cartel behaviour. We've begun the release of 20 per cent of Australia's fuel reserves. We've changed petrol standards to get more fuel flowing. We've changed diesel standards so Australia's refineries can supply more diesel. We've appointed a national Fuel Supply Taskforce Coordinator. We've tasked the ACCC with ramping up fuel price monitoring and issuing on-the-spot fines. We've made it easier for Australia's refineries to access government funding when they run at a loss.

We've engaged with international partners to keep supply flowing. We've engaged with the states and territories on supply and distribution, including holding a special energy ministers meeting; activated the National Coordination Mechanism, which has met twice; and unlocked funding for financial counselling for impacted farmers. We also, as senators would know, will introduce new legislation today to give the government new trading powers to ensure the continued supply of fuel in Australia. And there is legislation on the program today—which we should be at now, had it not been for this suspension—on the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026. In addition to that, and in consultation with the opposition, there is a bill on increasing the advance to the finance minister.

In short, we have done all of that, responding to the unfolding situation. We understand how hard this is on motorists, on business and on various industries that are directly affected by the outcomes of the conflict in the Middle East, and this government will continue to respond. This is an orderly government that works through what the right response is. We take advice and we make decisions, and we will continue to do that. The list of decisions and outcomes that I just took the Senate through clearly indicate how much work has been done. But that work continues as the situation unfolds, in similar circumstances to what those opposite did when they were in government when the pandemic hit. It was a matter of taking decisions that responded to the circumstances at the time. Those decisions were not all done in a finite period of time.

We have taken a number of decisions to shore up supply and make sure that supply is getting to Australia. That is critical. That is the priority of the government, and it will continue to be. How that gets distributed to make sure it's getting to those places where we've seen disruption in the last few weeks is also a priority. And we understand cost is an issue. I mean, anyone who fills their car up is feeling this, and the government understands that. We need to work with the states and territories on their response to this. The Commonwealth stands ready to work with them. This is having a serious economic impact on individual households and on businesses, and this government stands with them to make sure we are doing everything we can.

Ministers are working in their portfolios to make sure they are responding appropriately—meeting with stakeholders, which they are doing constantly, including over the weekend and at night. This is an unfolding situation—

Well, you can scoff. We are working hard to ensure that our response is appropriate and fits the circumstances of the time. (Time expired)