Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Happy Monday. My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Iran's recent actions in the Middle East have triggered instability and severe shocks to energy markets around the world. What is the government doing to shield Australia and household budgets from the worst of this global uncertainty?

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

As Senator Ciccone outlines, the conflict in the Middle East is having an impact on households, on businesses, on industries and on supply chains in our country. Iran is holding the Strait of Hormuz hostage, and we've seen major spikes in demand for fuel, which have pushed prices up. We know that there are shortages in some areas as supply chains work to catch up. That's why the government is taking action securing fuel supply for Australian industry and households, cracking down on price gouging and working to mitigate the impacts from global energy price spikes. We're focusing on stability and affordability for gas users and strengthening Australia's resilience in the face of future shocks. We've released up to 20 per cent of diesel and fuel reserves to help deal with regional shortages, and we are making sure that all fuel made here in Australia is used here and that Australian oil refineries have the certainty they need to make more fuel here. The ACCC will punish suppliers found to be ripping people off, and we have brought forward legislation to double penalties. And, as Senator Ayres referenced, the government has appointed a fuel supply taskforce coordinator, with the appointment of Ms Anthea Harris in that role—a well-respected public servant, and someone with great knowledge of the energy markets.

These actions that we are taking build on almost four years of the work of our government, of this government, to strengthen Australia's resilience, to strengthen our international relationships and to shore up Australian economic security at a time of great uncertainty.

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

Senator Ciccone, first supplementary?

Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Minister, for that response. I understand that the minister has also been engaging with key international counterparts to help ensure the continued flow of fuel that we need. Minister, what has been Australia's message to our international counterparts, and what have been the responses?

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

Ministers across the government are engaging with international counterparts. Unlike some in this place who seek to make hyperpartisan observations—

Opposition Senator:

An opposition senator interjecting—

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

including the interjection just now—some of us in this parliament are actually focused on making sure we do what we can to assure supply and to ensure the continued flow of liquid fuel and diesel shipments.

Earlier today, the Prime Minister spoke with Lawrence Wong, the Prime Minister of Singapore, about our shared energy supply chain resilience and agreed a joint leaders' statement on energy security. I table that statement now.

In recent days, I have spoken with my counterparts in Singapore, Malaysia, the United States, the European Union, the Republic of Korea, and New Zealand and India. We have agreed that the international community must keep working together to ensure critical waterways are not held hostage by the Iranian regime. We will continue working around the clock to secure our fuel— (Time expired)

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

Senator Ciccone, second supplementary?

Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Challenging international circumstances, like those that we are seeing coming out of the Middle East, highlight just how important it is for governments to work together calmly and in the national interest. How is the Albanese government providing that leadership, Minister, and what threatens it?

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

Thank you, Senator Ciccone. The government does understand that Australians are watching the events in the Middle East, and globally, with great concern, and we all understand that Iran's actions have triggered severe global energy shocks. This matters to Australians; it matters to us all. But something Senator Ciccone said in his question merits repeating, which is: 'How do we work calmly and in the national interest?' because that is the question that politicians should be addressing, and that is the way the government is dealing with this. We are calmly working through these challenges—and they are substantial challenges—to protect Australians from these shocks.

What we see on the other side is, again, those opposite showing the extent to which they are all about themselves. They are all about themselves. When they see any national challenge, their first thought is: 'How do I play politics with it?'—that's their first thought. And it says something about your ethics. (Time expired)