Question Time AU

General Debate

Fuel Security

Senate · Thursday 12 March 2026

Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia

At a glance

Bridget McKenzie moved a motion to debate the government's handling of fuel security, citing shortages and price hikes affecting agriculture and consumers. She argued that ministers were deflecting responsibility and failing to use available data to manage supply. Penny Wong moved that the question be put immediately, effectively ending the debate without discussion. The suspension motion was not passed, preventing the fuel security motion from being debated.

Outcome

The suspension motion was not passed, and the motion relating to fuel security was not debated.

Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.

How the debate unfolded

Opened the debate

Bridget McKenzie (VIC) (National Party) Nationals

McKenzie argued that the government had failed to manage fuel security, leading to shortages and price increases across Australia. McKenzie highlighted difficulties faced by farmers in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania in obtaining diesel for harvest operations. McKenzie criticised the government for deflection, noting that Treasurer Jim Chalmers wrote to the ACCC rather than prosecuting retailers immediately. McKenzie disputed Minister King's attribution of shortages to Queensland floods and argued that Treasurer Chris Bowen had the legislative power to access granular data to distribute fuel supplies effectively.

Government response

Penny Wong (SA) (Minister for Foreign Affairs) ALP

Wong moved that the question be put immediately. This procedural motion sought to end the debate on the suspension motion without further discussion. By moving this, Wong prevented the Senate from considering the substantive motion regarding fuel security.

Votes during this debate

Division 17: Fuel Security Passed 34–28 Division 18: Fuel Security Not passed 28–34