Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. Yesterday, Minister Bowen was asked how many service stations in Australia have run out of fuel, and he could not provide a national figure. If the Albanese government is in control of this crisis, why can't you tell Australians how many service stations across the country have run dry?

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

I'm sure, if you'd buttonholed Minister Bowen on the way in here, he would have told you that we have precisely those figures available. This government has been completely transparent with the Australian people about what is happening. If the question was 'what are they?' then I would have been delighted to answer. Instead, I have a minute and a half to explain what figures we have. If Senator Chandler wants to ask what they are, I'm sure I'd be delighted to support her question with an answer.

It is true, at a national level, both because of the minimum stockholding which did not exist when we came to government and because of the fact that this government has released 20 per cent of the stockholding, that not all of the work has been done, particularly in regional Australia, particularly in some petrol stations like, for example, in New South Wales, where there are 164 petrol stations with no diesel. Overwhelmingly—

Opposition Senator:

An opposition senator interjecting—

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

Well, it's seven per cent. Those petrol stations will be overwhelmingly in regional Australia, and that is where farmers are currently, for example, undertaking winter planting. That is why the 20 per cent additional has been released. It is in order to free up some stockholding, particularly for those independent retailers who have struggled to get hold of that supply in the environment that we're in.

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

Senator Chandler, first supplementary?

Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given what the minister alluded to in his response, what is the national total of how many service stations across this country have run dry?

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

I'll start in Tasmania, if that assists you, Senator Chandler. In Tasmania, 0.4 per cent—that is, one petrol station—is without diesel. That is a problem; one is a problem. In Tasmania, six petrol stations—that is, two per cent of Tasmanian petrol stations—are without unleaded petrol. Nationally—

Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Choice in Childcare and Early Learning) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Give us nationally.

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

I have 60 seconds. Pace yourself, Senator O'Sullivan. At a national level, nine per cent of petrol stations are with one or more grade unavailable—that is, they may have diesel but not have unleaded petrol, or they may have unleaded petrol but not have diesel. That is nine per cent, and what that emphasises is that the government's approach, which I'm sure I'll be happy— (Time expired)

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

Senator Chandler, second supplementary?

Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, why couldn't you or Minister Bowen provide this information to Australians yesterday?

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

What the government has done here is provide it on a weekly basis. The minimum stockholding legislation that is in place requires a quarterly update, but, because of the situation that we're in—a weekly update. The purpose of the weekly update is so that Australians understand what there is in terms of the minimum stockholding that is at hand. The message that we are trying to send to the Australian people is not a complacency message—

I couldn't be more directly answering—

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

Senator Chandler?

Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, it was a very narrowly worded—

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

Why are you on your feet?

Claire Chandler (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Apologies, President. The point of order is on relevance. It was a very narrowly worded supplementary question. I merely want to know why this information wasn't provided yesterday.

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

I'm aware of the question, Senator Chandler. The minister's being relevant to the question.

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

It's the message that we're sending, which Australians are listening to, about not purchasing more than is required. The feedback that we're getting from petrol stations is that people are overwhelmingly following that advice, because there is confidence that, while this is not a straightforward proposition and requires effort— (Time expired)