Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Industry and Innovation) | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator O'Neill. On indulgence, I just want to welcome to the Senate my nieces, Abigail and Sophie, who've come down from Brisbane to visit the parliament and watch their uncle's excellent behaviour in this place.

This conflict in the Middle East has had very challenging impacts for Australians. It's been unwelcome, of course, for those living in the region but in particular for Australia's farmers, our freight companies, our logistics, and it's pushing up prices for businesses and for households. That's why we have been working so hard as a government to secure Australia's fuel and fertiliser.

On Saturday, Minister Bowen once again confirmed that we have more fuel now than when the conflict began. That is a remarkable Australian achievement. I remember what the responses of the government and the three right-wing parties were. In stark contrast, when war struck in the Middle East, the three right-wing parties got to Instagram and tried to frighten Australians, but the Albanese government got to work. We got to work and, as a consequence, in terms of fuel there is 44 days worth, over 1.8 billion litres, now in the country, along with 3.4 billion litres of diesel and 814 million litres of jet fuel. This month we have had the highest levels of fuel seen since the minimum stockholding obligations came into place. We get to work for Australians. The right-wing parties fight amongst themselves.