Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Yesterday, as reported by the ABC, S-Bend service station, which is 30 kilometres south of Geraldton in my home state of Western Australia, ran out of diesel. They made an emergency fuel request, with employee Wendy Butterworth telling the ABC:

We had to really plead, to say that we're in the position where we're the only outlet that can supply fuel in the 60-kilometre radius.

She said the supplier was only able to provide half of what the fuel station needed. It will now be 'touch and go' if the allocation will last, she said. This is happening as families across regional Western Australia prepare for possible power outages and severe weather events ahead of Cyclone Narelle. Minister, how has the Albanese government allowed the fuel crisis to get so bad that regional Australians are being forced to beg for diesel just to keep generators running in an emergency?

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

First, in relation to Cyclone Narelle, the government will continue to provide support and assistance as necessary for natural disasters. I know that my colleague Senator McCarthy may be able to say something about that later, in the context of her communities. But what I do want to respond to is, obviously, what is happening on fuel and the station in question that the senator referred to. We are dealing with a continuing and unprecedented shock to global energy markets. It is the largest in history. The government are taking practical action, and we will take more.

I will say, as I started to outline yesterday, that the conflict is likely—should it continue—to impact on our economy in direct and indirect ways. It's presenting challenges to regional communities, including the petrol station that you describe. It's presenting challenges to industries. It's presenting challenges to global markets. What we do say is we need to work together, and the government have acted already to release up to 20 per cent of our diesel fuel reserves to work to address regional shortages. We've amended fuel standards to keep more fuel made here in Australia for Australians to use. We've stood up a fuel supply taskforce in the Prime Minister's department, and the Prime Minister has convened National Cabinet to work together on fuel security, and that work will continue.

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

Senator Smith, first supplementary?

Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the minister guarantee that a tanker will be dispatched to the S-Bend service station today with enough fuel to meet their requirements?

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

We will continue to work with states and territories on—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Come to order on my left! The minister was on her feet.

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

We will continue to work with states, territories and companies on distribution, including—now that you have raised that, I will ensure that is communicated to the minister's office.

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

Senator Smith, second supplementary?

Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, do you still believe that the fuel crisis in Australia is nothing but 'far-right extremist scaremongering', as Minister Ayres has suggested?

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

I certainly have seen a fair bit of scaremongering lately. That is true.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Sorry, Minister Wong. Order! I've asked for order across the chamber.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can you drive a tanker—

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

Senator Cash, I've called for order and I'm waiting for order—

Senator Watt! I don't intend to call individual senators by their names. If I've called for order, there should be enough respect that you stop. Minister Wong.

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

What I hope is that all of us can have the sort of responsible, disciplined, adult approach to this that the country needs, and that is the approach this government will be taking.