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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. On Monday, the Prime Minister urged Australians to 'enjoy their Easter' and not cancel their holidays. Now we hear the Prime Minister will address Australians this evening to encourage Australians to help save fuel for areas that need it. Given his mixed messaging to the Australian people, can actually you tell us: what does the Prime Minister want Australians to do?

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

Thank you, Senator Cash, for that question. I make the point that we have been making for some time: this is a conflict and a shock to global energy markets which is having an effect on our economy that is being experienced both in terms of supply but also price. I have laid out here the plan that the Prime Minister announced on Monday as well as the measures, in the last weeks, the government has taken to shore-up supply.

As part of that, the Prime Minister has determined to address the nation tonight because this is an unprecedented shock to global energy markets that is impacting on the economy. If I may say, what that question again demonstrates is that this opposition is simply not up to the task. We are facing a conflict in the Middle East. We are facing effects on global supply—the largest shock in energy markets since the 1970s—

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

Order! Senator O'Sullivan!

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

And they are complaining that the Prime Minister wants to speak to the country about how we're dealing with it! That just says something about the opposition. If we look at what's been reported about the leaked talking points, where they say that the message of the day is 'to create doubt within the public about whether the government had an adequate fuel plan', that really demonstrates why this is not a serious opposition, why they are not up to the task, why they had the result in the election and why they continue to demonstrate an absence of what is required to lead this country.

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

Order! When you've quite finished, Senator Henderson.

Senator Ayres! The chamber will come to order. Senator Cash, first supplementary?

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

Minister, parliament is sitting right now. The Prime Minister has the floor of House of Representatives available to him at this very moment to tell the Australian people exactly what he wants them to do. Why is the Prime Minister waiting for parliament to rise tonight to deliver a televised address to the nation, rather than using the floor of the House of Representatives right now and be accountable to the parliament and the Australian people?

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

Last time I looked, question time in the House of Representatives was on as we speak. Frankly, Senator Cash, if you think that we're worried about coming to parliament to answer your question, you've really got tickets on yourself.

We are very clear about leadership the Prime Minister is showing on this issue—

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

Minister Wong, I'm sorry. Come to order! Senator O'Sullivan, you are well and truly out of line. You are yelling so loudly—and I've already called you a couple of times. Minister Wong, please continue.

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

We have outlined to the Australian people over the last weeks every step of the way what we were doing to secure supply, to release 20 per cent of Australia's stockholding and to change the fuel standards to enable more fuel to be refined in Australia and used in Australia. We have been upfront about how we are seeking to assure supply and the international engagement that I, the Prime Minister, Minister King and Minister Bowen have had. We have outlined the legislation that we passed last night for Export Finance Australia to secure more supply and many other matters. We have been clear with Australians, and we will be. (Time expired)

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

Second supplementary, Senator Cash?

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

Minister, can you identify a single consistent message this government has sent to the Australian people during this government's fuel crisis? The Prime Minister says, 'Drive.' The Treasurer says, 'Work from home.' The energy minister says, 'Supply is fine,' and yet almost 900 servos are now dry across Australia. Which one of those messages should Australians believe?

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

That their government will do everything we can to shield them from the impacts of this global shock. We will do everything we can to shield them from the impacts of this crisis in global energy markets. That is our commitment to the Australian people.