Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. Despite weeks of fuel shortages impacting truckies, farmers, fishers and miners, as well as petrol stations in our regions and city suburbs going dry—

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How's your war going?

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

Order!

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How's your war going?

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

Order!

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

the Minister for Climate Change and Energy continues to deny there is a problem.

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

Order! Senator McKenzie, I'm very sorry. Senator Shoebridge! I've called order twice and you've ignored me. Come to order! Senator McKenzie, please continue.

Order across the chamber! Order! This is question time, Senator Shoebridge and Senator Wong! Order. Order. Senators asking questions and ministers—

Senator Shoebridge! Senator Shoebridge, I will name you. You are being incredibly disrespectful to me. I'll remind the Senate once again that senators asking questions have the right to be heard in silence. Equally, when ministers stand up, that silence continues. I'm very sorry, Senator McKenzie. Please continue.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for your protection, Madam President. Just yesterday, on ABC's Insiders, the minister said:

… we've got our refineries working full pelt and not exporting any diesel or petrol … we are continuing to see our fuel supply being strong.

If Australia's fuel supplies are so strong, why over the weekend were 107 petrol stations in New South Wales without diesel, impacting farmers in Farrer and beyond, and 42 stations were without a single drop of fuel?

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

While I'd rely upon my previous answer in relation to the overall approach and I understand the approach that Senator McKenzie has taken to these issues, I do want to take the issues of supply in regional communities seriously in terms of my answer to this question. It does, of course, take time for new supply to work through the supply chain—519 million litres. This is being prioritised for regional demand.

Regarding the number of petrol stations or retail outlets that are supplying agricultural businesses in particular that Senator McKenzie refers to, the government has been very purposeful and deliberately transparent about precisely what is happening in those regional communities. We know that the following actions are happening: more supply in the Riverina and into regions like Hay and Griffith; more fuel for places like Gunnedah, which had stockouts last week; more fuel for independent service in country New South Wales towns, like Orange, Wellington, West Wyalong and Lake Cargelligo; and extra actions in Dubbo and Albert, where customers are starting planting season. All of those developments are happening because of the action that the government is undertaking—and also, importantly, in cooperation with our partners in the states—to make sure that the national stockholdings make their way right through the supply chain to people who need it.

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

Senator McKenzie, first supplementary?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The International Energy Agency has suggested Australians reduce fuel use by cutting speed limits by 10 kilometres an hour, car sharing, using public transport, staying home and restricting private car use to different days. On ABC's Insiders yesterday, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy agreed that one suggestion from the IEA was a sensible thing to do. How many of the IEA's proposals does the government think are sensible, and why should Australians be urged to embrace restrictions if, as the minister claims, our fuel supplies are strong? (Time expired)

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

Thanks to Senator McKenzie for that question. I, of course, watched Mr Bowen's Insiders interview just as closely as you did. I was struck by the way that he carefully and calmly explained what it was that the government is doing here. He also did that in a way where that transparency is all about supporting public confidence. What he didn't do was engage in hyperpartisan commentary about this issue. He did his job, and our job is to make sure that those national reserves are making their way through the supply chain. I'm hoping for another question to follow that on, because there's plenty more to say.

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

Order! Senator McKenzie, I can't call you for your second supplementary if you are being disorderly. Second supplementary, Senator McKenzie?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government has so far failed to maintain supplies of petrol and diesel needed by farmers, businesses and families. Can the government advise on what date fuel supplies will be restored such that Australians can be guaranteed that when they go to their local service station there will be fuel available for sale?

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

The thing about this set of challenges, Senator McKenzie, is that it requires everybody working together. It requires the kinds of steps the government has undertaken. I can tell you, in places like Texas, Queensland, that had stockouts last week—we are supporting fuel to make its way to Texas, Queensland, not Texas in the United States, which was Mr Taylor's plan just a few years ago.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order on relevance—when will the government guarantee Australians can buy fuel, given the minister assures us the supply is on shore?

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

Senator McKenzie, you're getting into dialogue. The minister is being relevant to your question.

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

Not sure whether it's dialogue or monologue, President, but—

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

Senator, that's not helpful. Withdraw in the interests of the chamber please.

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

This is a set of challenges—

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

Senator Ayres, in the interests of calming the chamber—

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

I withdraw. This is a set of national challenges that requires Australians to work together. That is kind of leadership that the government is providing in this instance and every other instance where there is a set of national challenges. It would be good if the Liberals and Nationals signed up to team Australia and actually behaved in a way that was consistent with the national interest.