Ross Lightfoot WA, Liberal Party
2:09 pm
My question is directed to Senator Carr, the Minister representing the Minister for Resources and Energy. Is there a petrol supply shortage in Australia?
Kim Carr Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
The government has always said—in fact, the Labor Party has always said, whether we are in government or in opposition—that world oil prices are the biggest contributor to the prices that we are actually paying at the pump. I have seen no reason—
Eric Abetz Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Mr President, on a point of order: the minister may have misheard the question. The question was not about petrol prices but about petrol supply.
Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate
Mr President, on the point of order: I know the acting Leader of the Opposition in the Senate is keen to make his mark, but as the minister had not even cleared his throat, let alone had a chance to respond to the question, I think it is clearly a frivolous point of order. I ask you to rule it out of order and suggest that we allow the minister to at least have more than 10 seconds before we take a point of order.
Alan Ferguson President
Order! Senator Abetz, Senator Carr is exactly 21 seconds into his answer, and we have always allowed ministers to develop an answer. There is no point of order, but I just remind Senator Carr of the question.
Rod Kemp Victoria, Liberal Party
Mr President, on a point of order: I have just heard a report that, when that question was asked, unfortunately the microphone in Senator Carr’s desk was turned on early and he was heard to say he has ‘no bloody idea’. I think that comment should be withdrawn.
Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate
Mr President, on the point of order: the opposition may not care about the impact of petrol prices on Australian families, but the government does, and this point of order—
Alan Ferguson President
Order! Senator Evans, resume your seat or come to the point of order.
Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate
Senator Kemp sought to verbal the minister with an untrue allegation about his response.
Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate
My point of order is that they should not be allowed to disrupt question time with frivolous points of order.
Alan Ferguson President
Order! Senator Kemp, there is no point of order.
Kim Carr Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
What is apparent from today’s discussion is that the opposition seems to have no regard for the real issue that concerns Australians—Australian motorists in particular, especially as we move into Easter—and that is the price of petrol. The effect that this is having on people’s disposable incomes, I think, should be understood more clearly by the opposition. What we have had is, in fact, a decade of inaction and silence on this question from the opposition. On the question of the issues—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Kim Carr Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
I am sorry if your concern about the effects that prices of petrol are having on Australian motorists is so poor. The fact remains that the current pressure on prices is a result of a number of factors. The concern that this government has is to take action to relieve pressure on motorists and to ensure that the ACCC takes the necessary steps to ensure that motorists are not abused, particularly as we move into—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Kim Carr Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
I am sorry if the opposition finds this such a humorous question. I am very disappointed that there is so little regard for the Australian motorist and the Australian family and the effect—
Michael Ronaldson Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Special Minister of State
Mr President, on a point of order: we know one Carr that has run out of petrol already! I would draw your attention to relevance. We have been going now for three minutes, and the minister refuses to answer this extremely important question.
Alan Ferguson President
Order! Senator Carr, when the initial point of order was taken you had only been speaking for 20 seconds. The question was about the supply of petrol, and I would remind you of the question.
Kim Carr Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
I repeat: we have a situation here where the opposition wishes to deny the great concerns that Australians have about the price of petrol. They wish to run a different set of arguments about the question of supply. There are many arguments with regard to the issue of peak oil. There are many concerns being expressed about the factors that affect the supply of petrol. The issue that motorists are concerned about this weekend is the price of petrol. What they are very concerned about is that, with the price of petrol going from—
Ross Lightfoot WA, Liberal Party
I rise on a point of order. The motorists are concerned about the price of petrol—
Ross Lightfoot WA, Liberal Party
My point of order is on relevance. My question was simple and concise. I repeat: is there a petrol supply shortage in Australia?
Alan Ferguson President
You do not need to repeat the question, Senator Lightfoot. The minister is now being relevant.
Kim Carr Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
There have been many factors affecting the supply of petrol in this country. The main concern that motorists have this weekend is the price of petrol. The concern that people have is the fact that prices are rising, and it would appear to many people to be a very convenient rise indeed. Prices moving up, to over $1.50 a litre, is a matter of deep concern to people who are trying to go on holidays this weekend. I would have thought there would be greater concern expressed by the opposition on that issue. On the issue of refining and other such matters there has been an ongoing debate in this country about the capacity of the industry to respond to the international pressures that have arisen.
George Brandis Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General
Senator Brandis interjecting—
Kim Carr Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
The real question, Senator Brandis, is: what is the government doing about the price of petrol? We have indicated clearly our intention and our actions with regard to the ACCC. Action is being taken in that regard and I have nothing further to add.
Ross Lightfoot WA, Liberal Party
I am still at a loss as to whether Senator Carr’s answer was yes or no. My supplementary questions are: who exactly is monitoring fuel supply and pricing issues over the Easter break, given that the government’s so-called petrol commissioner has not even started work yet, and does the minister believe that anything under $1.50 a litre is a good price? What price, exactly, should motorists be paying for petrol this Easter?
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Senators:
Honourable senators interjecting—
Alan Ferguson President
We will not continue with question time until there is order in the chamber.