My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Families in Australia have little choice but to rely on their cars to get to work, take their children to school, attend medical appointments and access essential services. Regional Australians are once again facing a spike in fuel prices, on top of the high costs of living. The coalition has proposed a fuel price shield to automatically halve the fuel excise when global oil prices spike. When will Labor start addressing the challenges facing regional Australians, and why won't the government commit to meaningful relief for families who have no choice but to drive?

I thank Senator McDonald for the question. The point which I agree with you is that we are seeing another round of disruption to global markets. That has consequences for oil prices—diesel, petrol and petroleum product prices—here in Australia, and this is why we have said, for some months, that we want to see an end to the conflict in the Middle East. We want to see the Strait of Hormuz opened. We want to see the negotiations continue. What is occurring in terms of the Strait of Hormuz is affecting the global energy market, which is in turn affecting Australians, whether they live in regional Australia or in urban areas.

The first priority the government has had throughout this is to keep us shielded from supply shocks. You would know—and I recognise your involvement with regional communities—there was a great deal of concern, fear and worry about access to diesel and to urea, in particular. The first point is we knew that we had to act to deliver supply, and we did. We invested in the budget $7.5 billion into the Fuel and Fertiliser Security Facility to secure more fuel, as well as announcing the fuel security reserve to build long-term fuel resilience and to look at new or expanded refining capabilities.

We recognise the price is fluctuating, and we've seen a spike.

Fluctuating up!

No, it is fluctuating. It's gone up— (Time expired)

Senator McDonald, first supplementary?

Mums and dads, tradies, farmers, producers, fishers, tourism operators and even Meals on Wheels are all being hit by rising fuel costs. Minister, when did you last fill up your car in a regional town and see firsthand what Australians are paying at the bowser? When will the Albanese Labor government stop passing the buck and accept responsibility for the additional pressure families and regional businesses are under?

We do accept responsibility for trying to steer the country through what is the largest shock to global energy markets in history. That is why you saw not only investment in the Fuel and Fertiliser Security Facility but the Prime Minister and me engaging with other countries to secure supplies. Let's remember that. We ensured that we secured supplies at a time when supplies were not secured, and we did that because of the importance to our economy.

You talk about regional Australia. One of the points I continued to make to our suppliers in North Asia, in South-East Asia—I said, 'You send us diesel and urea, and we send you back food.' That is the mutual security of supply that matters to all of us. That is why we have engaged and that is why we have worked to ensure— (Time expired)

Senator McDonald, second supplementary.

Rising fuel costs ultimately flow through to Australian families in the price of their groceries and everyday essentials. Minister, what modelling has the Albanese government done on the flow-on impact of rising fuel costs on regional businesses, on the cost of living and on food costs? Why is your government refusing to adopt the coalition's fuel price shield to help ease that burden?

We have never downplayed the effect of the spike in fuel prices on our economy. But perhaps you should have a conversation with the other party in the coalition or, in fact, some of your frontbench colleagues, because those who are downplaying the effect of the conflict on inflation and prices in this country are your party and the Liberal Party. You're saying: 'Actually, that doesn't matter—inflation. It's not about that; it's about the Albanese Labor government.' Actually, what you are asking is correct. We may differ on the response, but what you are asking is correct. The reality is that the Middle East conflict—particularly the impact on global markets—is having an effect on our economy and it is cascading throughout our economy. We are very aware of that, and we always have been aware of that. With that, President, if I may, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.