Answers to Questions

Sheldon criticised the opposition for focusing on minor issues like jerry can stocks instead of the serious Middle East crisis. Sheldon argued that the government's fuel excise cut would reduce petrol and diesel prices and lower inflation by half a percentage point by June 2026. Sheldon highlighted other cost-of-living measures, including Medicare reforms and minimum wage increases, while contrasting these with the opposition's past policies of tax hikes and service cuts.

Sharma argued that Australia was already in a cost-of-living crisis, citing significant increases in electricity, gas, food, and insurance prices over the past four years. Sharma noted that annualised inflation was running at 3.7 per cent, which was higher than in other advanced economies, leading to recent interest rate rises. Sharma supported the fuel excise cut but argued that because it was not offset by spending cuts, it would add to aggregate demand and mask underlying inflationary pressures.

Smith characterised the event as the most significant worldwide disruption to energy markets since the 1970s, impacting twenty per cent of global oil supply. Smith outlined the government's extensive response, which involved cutting the fuel excise by half for three months, releasing twenty per cent of fuel reserves, and appointing a national fuel supply taskforce coordinator. Smith contended that the government was acting responsibly to guarantee fuel security and shield consumers from price gouging, contrasting this with the opposition, which she asserted was concentrating on parliamentary composition.

Liddle challenged the Prime Minister's claim that Bunnings had run out of jerry cans, citing a Bunnings spokeswoman who stated that such claims could trigger panic buying. Liddle highlighted severe fuel shortages in remote South Australia, where diesel prices were approaching $4 a litre and some areas faced potential bowser shutdowns. Liddle argued that the government's inaccurate statements undermined confidence in their management of fuel supply and pricing, while also criticising the proposed $600 million cost to expand parliament.