Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. I refer to reporting by Sky News reporter Cam Reddin that government ministers have started cancelling travel to reduce fuel consumption, that members of government are considering not bringing staff to Canberra for budget week and that ministers are considering catching the bus to Canberra, because they are concerned about fuel. If ministers don't have confidence in Australia's fuel supply, which the Prime Minister and energy minister have said is at higher levels than before the conflict, how can Australians have confidence that we actually have enough fuel?

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

First, I would make the point that, as I said and the Prime Minister said, we are saying to Australians, 'Use what fuel you need to but no more.' That is consistent with what you have just put to me. But, if I may say, Senator Duniam, what that question demonstrates is precisely the motivation that your leaked talking points demonstrate. What it says—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

I'll take the interjection from Senator Cash. She persistently interjects that she's standing up for the Australian people. No, you are standing up your political interests. And we know that from the leaked talking points. The message of the day was 'Create doubt about fuel supply.'

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

Minister Wong, resume your seat. Senator Duniam?

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point around relevance, I asked a very specific question, as you recall. This has nothing to do with it.

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

Thank you, Senator Duniam. I am well aware of your question. I also remind you that, where senators interject, the minister is perfectly within her rights to take the interjection. So, as I have been saying since 2 pm—I have been calling for order—if you can get people to be quiet then that would be a gold star for you. Minister Wong, please continue.

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

I was asked by this shadow minister, Senator Duniam, about confidence in the fuel supply. It is exactly what he has been asked to do. It is in leaked talking points that the opposition is being tasked with creating doubt about fuel. You're doing exactly—

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

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Canavan?

Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given the minister is reading from a document, could I ask for it to be tabled? I haven't seen the talking points and I'm on Andrew Bolt tonight, so I wouldn't mind reading them!

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

Senator Canavan, please. Resume your seat. Minister Wong.

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

Senator Canavan, thank you for narrowing down the suspected leakers by exclusion of the National Party; we appreciate it! And I am quoting from the Daily Telegraph and what was published about your leaked talking points. At least Senator Duniam is a loyal member of the Taylor team. He is doing what the leaked talking points tell us about the strategy, which is: 'Create doubt. Sow fear.' The problem for the opposition is that it simply demonstrates why they are unfit to seek to be the alternative government of Australia.

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

Senator Duniam, first supplementary.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There was no answer to that question. I ask: The National Fuel Security Plan currently states that level 3, 'take targeted action', requires adopting voluntary practical measures to limit fuel use. What specific trigger in the National Fuel Security Plan has been met to justify ministers limiting their travel? And why hasn't this been disclosed to Australians?

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

As the Prime Minister said when he announced this plan after National Cabinet, we are currently at level 2. Level 2 includes the government taking precautionary actions to shore up fuel supply: buy only the fuel you need, make voluntary choices to use less, and avoid the impact of higher fuel prices. So, Senator, we are acting in accordance with the plan that we have transparently made available to the Australian people, and the Prime Minister will have more to say in his address to the nation tonight.

What I would say, again, is that in a time when we see an unprecedented global shock—the worst shock that energy markets have experienced since the 1970s—we have the alternative government of the day not being, as we have been in the past, when in opposition, willing to put aside partisanship for the national interest. What we see is the opposition trying to make people scared. (Time expired)

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

Senator Duniam, second supplementary.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, in light of the behaviour of government ministers starting to implement fuel rationing themselves, doesn't this prove that the government is saying one thing publicly while preparing for a fuel crisis behind closed doors? And will the Prime Minister and his ministers be limiting the use of the taxpayer funded spa flights over the coming weeks in order to save fuel?

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

I'm just waiting for order.

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

The Australian people have seen, over these weeks, the action the government has taken to shore up supply. The Australian people have seen—

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

Order!

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

the action the government has taken to enable more fuel to flow to Australia and to look to deal with distribution issues.

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

Order!

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

The Australian people have seen the National Cabinet meetings, including where the National Fuel Security Plan was adopted and made public—

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

Order! Senator McGrath, you continued your interjections. I called order three times. I called you by your name, and you continued the running commentary.

Senator O'Sullivan is joining you in my desire to try to get you to come to order. Minister Wong.

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

The Australian people have seen our engagement with international partners and the Australian people will have the benefit of the reduction in excise and the heavy vehicle road user charge. And tonight the Prime Minister will address the nation, because this is an unprecedented shock on global markets.

What the Australian people also see, colleagues, is the behaviour of those opposite, who, true to form, are unable, when things are tough, to ever look beyond their own— (Time expired)