Bill Debate · Limitation of Debate
Senate · Wednesday 1 April 2026
Official Hansard for this day (APH) · Read this debate on OpenAustralia
The Senate considered the first reading of two appropriation bills related to fuel security response. Senator Gallagher moved the motion for the bills to be read a first time, which was agreed to. Senator Thorpe subsequently moved an amendment calling for a 90-day in-country fuel reserve and directing Defence spending on domestic storage infrastructure. The amendment was negatived, and the bills proceeded to the next stage.
The motion for first reading was agreed to, and the amendment moved by Senator Thorpe was negatived.
Summary in reported speech - not a transcript. AI-generated, so check the official record before quoting.
Opened the debate
Gallagher moved the motion that the Appropriation (Fuel Security Response) Bills (No. 1 and No. 2) 2025-2026 be read a first time. The motion was agreed to by the Senate, allowing the bills to proceed. No further substantive arguments were presented by Gallagher during this brief procedural stage.
Thorpe moved an amendment stating that a domestic fuel stockpile of 90 days would boost national resilience against supply disruptions and ensure Defence sustainability. The amendment urged the Government to instruct the Department of Defence to allocate $500 million each year from its current budget to build local fuel storage infrastructure. This proposal sought to reach a minimum 90-day reserve without extra funding.