Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. How many petrol stations in Australia have dropped their petrol prices by 26c per litre today?

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

As you would know, Senator, the fuel excise reduction commenced today, and you will understand that will flow through to users in the weeks, or in the days, to come—in the following week.

James Paterson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Weeks or days?

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

 I misspoke. I said, 'In the days to come'. There already exists fuel under previously existing contracts. But I hope that you will join with so much of Australia in welcoming the reduction in excise and the reduction in the heavy vehicle road user charge.

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

Senator Hume, first supplementary?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, what was average price of unleaded petrol across Australia yesterday, and what is the average price of unleaded petrol across Australia today?

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

I fuelled my car up on the weekend—my personal car—and I think it was about $2.60-something at the time. I hope we see lower prices in the days to come.

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

Minister Wong has concluded her answer. Senator Hume, second supplementary?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Direct relevance—and I was on my feet.

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

The minister has concluded her answer.

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She didn't answer the question, though. That was direct relevance. I asked about yesterday and today, not the weekend.

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

Senator Hume, I'm not quite sure what you expect I cannot rewind here. The minister had concluded her answer. Please ask your second supplementary.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The bowsers don't lie!

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

Senator McGrath, I'm sure you can see that Senator Hume is on her feet. Order!

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given today there are 845 service stations around the country that have run dry of at least one type of fuel—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order across the chamber! Yes, far out, Senator McKenzie. I've been calling for order because I would like Senator Hume to be able to ask her question in silence. That is right across the chamber—and particularly at you. Senator Hume, please continue.

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, given today there are 845 service stations running dry of at least one type of fuel, at how many service stations across the country will Australians actually be able to find fuel that has dropped 26c per litre over Easter?

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

As I said, the excise started on 1 April. That will flow through to consumers over the coming days. I'm pleased to report—and this is a South Australian answer—that the Adelaide Advertiser reported that fuel prices were down 30c per litre and unleaded was dropping to $2.29 on Wednesday morning in much of the state's metro area and regional centres, while diesel had also dropped below the $3 bar, following the federal government's announcement on Monday to cut the fuel excise by half, reducing the cost of fuel and saving drivers around $16 when filling up a 60-litre tank. I hope, Senator, that you will welcome that. But I suspect she'll be back where the talking points are, which is—you really don't want to talk about these talking points? Did you give them away?

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

Senator Hume?

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On direct relevance, President. The talking points that Minister Wong refers to—I'd like them to be tabled, because they're different to mine.

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

Senator Hume, resume your seat! Senator Hume, resume your seat! Order! Senator Hume, when I ask you to resume your seat, you resume your seat. You do not continue to ignore me, trying to make some clever point. You are being disrespectful. Minister, please continue.

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

When it comes to the leaked talking points, me thinks the deputy doth protest too much.