Jessica Collins (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. Yesterday, the minister assured the Senate that Australia has:

… in terms of petrol supplies 1.56 billion litres of petrol on hand here in Australia. Eighty per cent of it is on land and around 20 per cent of it is on the water between refineries and ports within our exclusive economic zone. There's 32 days worth of diesel—2.97 billion litres.

This will no doubt come as great comfort to the fishermen who can't fill their boats, the farmers who can't run their machinery and the service stations across regional Australia that have been forced to ration fuel or shut off bowsers. Minister, since the fuel is apparently here—all 2.97 billion litres of it—where exactly is it, and why is it not reaching the Australians who need it to work and feed this country?

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

I suppose it's trite to point out that it's not in Texas—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

which is where Mr Taylor put it. The Australian response—

If you were faintly interested, Senator McGrath, in what is happening in regional Queensland, you would just give us an opportunity to not be shouted over. The approach that the government has taken is, firstly, to do that long-term hard work of making sure that the minimum stockholding obligation is being not only adhered to but exceeded. There will be figures later in the week that will outline what the up-to-date figures are in relation to that. But what I can say is that they have not changed substantially.

The minister is making announcements about ensuring that Australian fuel gets to where it needs to go—that is, ensuring that our supply, our stockholding obligation, is getting to the places that it needs to get to. The minister is announcing that he is temporarily amending fuel standards regarding higher sulphur levels for the next 60 days. This will enable Ampol, who currently make this fuel here in Australia for export markets, to release that additional petrol into the domestic market— (Time expired)

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

Senator Collins, first supplementary?

Jessica Collins (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's clear the government doesn't know exactly where it is. Minister, the government's position appears to be this: 'There is no hoarding. There is no bottleneck. There is no supply being withheld. There is simply high demand for a product that is sitting somewhere in Australia in quantities sufficient to last 32 days.' So what is stopping 2.97 billion litres of diesel from reaching the Australians who are trying to buy it?

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

This is about practical action, not debating society talking points.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order!

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

In relation to that additional fuel that you claim to be so interested in—

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! Minister Ayres, please resume your seat. I have called for order about five or six times. During the first question there were constant interjections and, the minute I called the minister, they started again. Please be silent.

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

In relation to that, the government has been unequivocal with the producers that additional supply must go to farmers, fishers and regional communities that need it. Ampol has made the undertaking that this additional supply will be directed to regional areas, including via the spot market, where we are seeing the pressure on smaller and independent fuel wholesalers. This morning, we also activated the national coordination mechanism to respond to emerging fuel supply chain issues. I'm sure I'll get an opportunity in a moment to finish that point.

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

Senator Collins, second supplementary?

Jessica Collins (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, after a roundtable to which the fishing industry was not invited, the government's solution is to publish fuel supply data once a week. No doubt a fisherman whose boat cannot leave port today will find great comfort in next Friday's spreadsheet! But perhaps the minister could explain what he is actually supposed to do in the meantime, because his fuel security exists on paper, not at the bowser.

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

Perhaps I'll save the rest of the outline of the government's announcements today for a question that is directed towards what we are actually doing rather than debating points and social media clicks. Information in this environment is important. The conduct of political leaders and so-called political leaders is important.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Minister Ayres, please resume your seat. Once again, those on my left are out of order. There are so many of you, it's impossible to name you. I've asked for silence. Please be respectful to me and to this chamber.

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

President, you know I don't like shouting. Australians form judgements about the way that we conduct ourselves, and they have formed a judgement about those opposite time and time again and over and over again.

Jessica Collins (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I raise a point of order, Madam President. I was asking about what the minister is going to do, not about the conduct in the chamber.

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

I will draw the minister to your question.

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

I'll get an opportunity to outline that in some detail over the course of the next hour, I imagine. But information matters, and misinformation hurts. It hurts ordinary Australians. (Time expired)