Senate

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister stated that national fuel stocks remained stable, with 1.56 billion litres of petrol and 2.97 billion litres of diesel available, unchanged since the Middle East conflict began. He attributed regional shortages to unusual purchasing behaviour and a 40 per cent spike in demand reported by the National Farmers' Federation, rather than a supply deficit. The minister announced that fuel supply data would be released weekly to improve transparency and noted that industry was working to communicate effectively with the community to manage purchasing behaviour.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister reported that Iranian attacks had forced the closure of Australian missions in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Tel Aviv, urging Australians to follow Smartraveller advice. She noted that over 3,200 Australians had returned on 23 commercial flights and encouraged others to leave immediately while flights were available. Regarding Lebanon, she condemned Hezbollah strikes and urged the approximately 15,000 Australians there to depart if safe. On fuel security, she reiterated that stocks were arriving as expected but demand patterns were affecting regional supply, warning against panic buying and price gouging.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister announced that fines for deceptive practices and anti-competitive agreements would be doubled to a maximum of $100 million per offence. He stated that the ACCC was ramping up fuel monitoring with weekly reports focusing on unusual price spikes and was working with industry to secure authorisation to coordinate supply and remove bottlenecks. Regarding the number of ACCC investigations and the IEA request, the minister declined to provide specific details at that stage, stating he would provide more information later.

Answer from Penny Wong

The minister clarified that Australia was engaged in collective self-defence to protect civilians and Australians in Gulf nations under attack by Iran, not taking offensive action against Iran. She stated the deployment was in response to a written request from the United Arab Emirates to help defend against missile and drone attacks. She rejected the accusation of bowing to US demands, asserting that actions were taken in Australia's national interest to protect civilians in locations where Australians were present.

Answer from Katy Gallagher

The minister highlighted investments in paid parental leave extending to 26 weeks by 2026, subsidised childcare, and wage increases in feminised industries. She noted that the Status of Women Report Card showed Australia rising from 43rd to 13th in global gender equality rankings, with a narrowing gender pay gap of 11.2 per cent. She emphasised that women's representation in government, now at 56 per cent, was crucial for driving further progress and ensuring equal opportunities for future generations.

Answer from Jenny McAllister

The minister declined to comment on budget specifics but highlighted an $812 billion investment in Medicare to improve primary care access and bulk-billing rates, which had risen by 6.3 percentage points in Tasmania since October 2023. She stated that the government was committed to delivering for Australians with diabetes, including securing the PBS listing of Fiasp and providing subsidised continuous glucose monitors to all 130,000 Australians with type 1 diabetes under the National Diabetes Services Scheme.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister reiterated that there was no national supply problem, citing 1.56 billion litres of petrol and 2.97 billion litres of diesel in stock. He attributed regional rationing to a sudden rush in consumer demand, with some customers buying four times their usual amount, rather than a lack of fuel. He stated that the Australian Institute of Petroleum confirmed sufficient supply to meet normal demand and urged political leaders to communicate the truth to avoid spreading misinformation.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister stated that the government's approach was outlined in the national artificial intelligence plan, focusing on economic advantage and establishing an AI safety institute with $29.9 million in funding. He argued that existing laws on workplace safety, consumer protection, privacy, and copyright were sufficient for regulation. Regarding meetings with AI companies, he declined to provide specific numbers, stating that his office met regularly with industry and that the implication of undue influence was offensive.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister confirmed that the National Oil Supplies Emergency Committee found no shortage of supply, with stocks of 1.56 billion litres of petrol, 802 million litres of jet fuel, and 2.97 billion litres of diesel. He attributed rationing to spikes in consumer purchasing behaviour. Regarding refinery closures, he blamed the previous government for neglecting national interest and cited Geoscience Australia's finding that conventional oil reserves are depleting faster than new discoveries are made.

Answer from Tim Ayres

The minister denied that Australia faced a supply challenge, stating that ships were arriving as predicted and stocks remained high. He attributed the crisis to unprecedented consumer demand and panic buying, citing the National Farmers' Federation's report of a 40 per cent increase in demand. He reiterated that penalties for price gouging were being doubled and accused opposition parties of spreading fear and division rather than addressing the issue transparently.