Answers to Questions

Sterle challenged the opposition's narrative by citing his own recent experiences in regional Western Australia where fuel was available, arguing that isolated incidents did not constitute a national crisis. Sterle provided data on national fuel reserves, stating there were 36 days of petrol, 29 days of jet fuel, and 32 days of diesel in stock. Sterle attributed the current vulnerability to previous government decisions to close refineries, which reduced domestic capacity. Sterle accused the opposition of exaggerating the situation for political gain rather than addressing the actual supply figures.

Scarr presented testimony from a Queensland fishery owner who reported an inability to secure fuel for vessels, preventing them from catching fish. Scarr quoted the Deputy Premier of Queensland, who stated that the federal government had not done enough to manage fuel supply and distribution. Scarr argued that the government should have anticipated demand changes following the conflict in the Middle East. Scarr insisted that the opposition was fulfilling its duty to highlight genuine supply chain failures in regional areas.

Stewart argued that the opposition was deliberately stoking fear and anxiety regarding fuel supplies, which was leading to unnecessary stockpiling by the public. Stewart maintained that the actual supply of fuel entering the country had not changed and that the crisis was being manufactured by political rhetoric. Stewart highlighted the government's broader cost-of-living relief measures, including tax cuts, pay rises for minimum wage workers, and expanded parental leave. Stewart contrasted these actions with the opposition's alleged alignment with interests seeking to reduce workers' rights.

O'Sullivan emphasised the urgent need for fuel reliability for farmers approaching seeding time in Western Australia. O'Sullivan disputed the government's claim that reports of shortages were misinformation, citing ABC coverage of a roadhouse owner describing long queues and rationing. O'Sullivan argued that the government's responsibility extended beyond ports to ensuring distribution reached end-users like farms and roadhouses. O'Sullivan noted that the previous coalition government had established mechanisms to direct fuel distribution, which the current government was failing to utilise effectively.