Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Before the 2022 election, the Prime Minister was tweeting photographs of petrol prices at $1.79, $1.85 and $1.91 a litre, demanding action from the coalition. Today, Australians filling up at Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane—and including Darwin—are paying closer to $2.20 per litre. Minister, if $1.79 per litre for petrol was a national outrage when Labor was in opposition, why is $2.20 per litre apparently acceptable now that Labor is in government?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, I assume you are aware that there is a conflict in the Middle East, and I assume you are aware that that conflict is wider than has been anticipated. It's a conflict that has seen Iran attack some 12 countries in the Middle East. It has seen Iran attack hydrocarbon infrastructure in the Middle East and issue public threats over the Strait of Hormuz. We are confident in the fuel holdings that Australia has. I would make that point, despite the fearmongering by some opposite.

But what I would also say, Senator Hume, is that that question demonstrates the approach that your parties have taken for too many days in relation to this conflict, which is that, where the nation looks to bipartisanship, where the nation looks to there being less politics and more public interest and where the nation looks to the parties of government behaving as such, we see yet again those opposite for too long seeking to make politics out of this crisis. I would make this point. We saw Mr Taylor, the member for Hume, stand up, as I understand it, just before question time and belatedly giving some bipartisan support, and I welcome that—a little bit late, but that's okay. We welcome it because I actually think, and I think most Australians think, this might actually be a time to try and look to the national interest, and that is the invitation to the opposition. Why don't you try, just for once, to look at national interests rather than petty political interests? (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, first supplementary?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Higher petrol bases are now compounding the pain for families who are already suffering under Labor's homegrown cost-of-living crisis, with higher mortgages, higher electricity bills and higher grocery bills—a cost-of-living crisis that existed long before the conflict in Iran. Minister, why has your government spent three years increasing government expenditure, fuelling inflation, weakening household budgets and leaving Australians exposed to exactly this kind of shock?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This from the former shadow finance minister whose legacy would have been more debt, higher deficits and higher taxes! I mean, really, Senator Hume! For you to ask a question on that when you are—and I invite you to read the election review, because I would remind you that the policy you are personally responsible for—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Hume?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a point of order on relevance. The question was about the cost-of-living crisis under Labor's homegrown inflation.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Wong, I will draw you back to Senator Hume's question.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With respect, Senator Hume, you raised the issue of government spending and you are making an assertion about government spending. There are a couple of responses to that. The first is that we invite you to tell us what you would cut. We invite you to do that. Secondly, if you cared so much about government spending, Senator Hume, why did you go to an election with higher deficits and higher debt? Why would you? (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Hume, before I call you feel you for your second supplementary, I do need to hear the minister, and you were yelling more loudly than the minister. A second supplementary?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Prime Minister clearly cared about petrol prices when they were politically useful to him in opposition. Now that Australians are paying more under Labor, what's he actually going to do about bringing prices down rather than forcing families to carry yet another cost in Labor's homegrown cost-of-living crisis?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ministers are in daily contact with fuel retailers and suppliers to ensure that supplies of diesel and fuel are getting to where they need to go. We are also watching fuel prices closely.

There's an interjection from Senator McKenzie, who was first amongst those to politicise the crisis. It's unsurprising you're there and it's unsurprising representation of the Nationals in the Senate.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator McKenzie! This is not a debate. It's question time, and the minister needs to be heard in silence.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will go back to fuel prices. I again say what the Treasurer and other ministers have said: retailers should not be using these events in the Middle East to price gouge.

Senator McKenzie, I am trying to answer the question and occasionally it would be good—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator McKenzie, stop the interjections!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Retailers should not be using events in the Middle East to price gouge Australians, and the ACCC have said they will not hesitate to take action where people are breaking our laws. We are monitoring fuel prices and supply impacted by events in the Middle East. Australians will recall we did— (Time expired)