Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Your government's response to Australia's fuel supply problem is temporary and inadequate, and does not address the fundamental problem of Australia's lack of long-term fuel security. Will your government commit to resuming full-time oil and gas exploration to ensure Australia has the necessary long-term supplies of these essential fuels?

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

I think Senator Ayres went to this last week, where, in response to Senator Canavan, he pointed out that some of the exploration Senator Canavan had been advocating in government was not commercially viable. I would make the point that since 2022 the government has released 10 areas in Northern Carnarvon, Browse and other basins for offshore exploration, in August 2022; released areas in the Otway and Sorell basins for offshore exploration, in December 2025; and granted five offshore exploration permits.

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

Senator Hanson, first supplementary?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This fuel supply crisis has served to expose Australia's extreme dependency on fuel from overseas and our vulnerability to global economic shocks like that caused by the war in the Middle East. Will your government help secure Australia's future by establishing and supporting a sovereign oil and petroleum manufacturing industry which meets all of our fuel needs?

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

Order! Senator Whish-Wilson, this is not your question and you will listen in silence.

Senator Whish-Wilson, I've just called you to order. Either listen in silence or leave the chamber; that's the choice.

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

Get Gina to fly you over!

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

Senator Shoebridge, it is not an invitation for you to start up. Order applies across the chamber. It's disrespectful, when I've called for order, to continue to shout out.

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

To the first part of your question, there were a couple of points which the government itself has made. We are at the end of global supply chains and we need to increase our national resilience, including in energy. As you would be aware, four out of six refineries closed under a coalition government, and, as I've previously said—

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And Labor!

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

I'm not sure you criticised them at the time; maybe you did. My observation would be that the parties of the right, the grand coalition of One Nation, the National Party and Liberal Party—you're not very hard on them sometimes.

Can I make this point: drilling in the Great Australian Bight was abandoned when Senator Canavan was in government. Coal-to-liquid is rare but expensive. I would make the point that it is— (Time expired)

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

Senator Hanson, second supplementary?

Pauline Hanson (Queensland, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, Labor and the Greens have routinely demonised fossil fuels, despite the fact that Australia relies on them now—and will into the future. Does the government acknowledge it got this wrong, and will it take the necessary steps to support fossil fuels by scrapping net zero and the national self-harm it is causing?

You've destroyed this country. You have been so—

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

Order! Senator Whish-Wilson, once again—seriously. Minister Wong will be heard in silence.

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

Ensuring the country is resilient to international shocks—whether it's conflict in the Middle East, the Ukraine war or the other geopolitical uncertainty—to ensure supply resilience requires us to ensure that we have diverse options. So, Senator, I disagree with you if your lesson out of this global energy crisis is that we should not be transitioning to renewables, which of themselves, obviously, are sovereign capability. But, at the same time, Senator, it is the case that making—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Watt and Senator Canavan!

Senator Canavan, I've called you, and yet you call out again. Minister Wong, did you have anything further to add?

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

Thank you. We want Australia to be energy secure. What we will do and what we are doing, Senator, is—unlike you, we don't have an ideological view, but we will look at all— (Time expired)