House of Representatives

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated that the government had consistently acknowledged the pressure on Australians due to the war in the Middle East. He noted that while Australia was not a participant in the conflict, domestic impacts were significant, including some individuals taking more fuel than necessary. He confirmed that all scheduled fuel shipments had arrived, fuel standards were adjusted to keep domestic production local, and 20 per cent of reserves were released to regional areas. The Prime Minister highlighted the National Fuel Security Plan agreed upon with state and territory leaders to manage the situation through four stages, aiming to remain at stage 2. He also mentioned that states and territories had agreed not to benefit from GST windfalls and that the government was addressing cost-of-living pressures through responsible planning.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister acknowledged the member's work in his electorate regarding cyclone impacts. He stated that the government was prioritizing relief for Australians facing the largest historical spike in fuel prices due to the Middle East war. Key actions included halving the fuel excise for three months, saving families and farmers 26 cents per litre, and eliminating the heavy vehicle road user charge to support trucking. He also mentioned empowering the Commonwealth to underwrite shiploads of fuel and essentials. The Prime Minister defended these actions against opposition criticism, emphasizing proactive planning and collaboration with National Cabinet, industry, and suppliers to manage uncertainty and support Australians.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The Minister provided detailed figures for each state and territory. In New South Wales, 247 stations lacked diesel and 61 had total stockouts out of 2,400. In Queensland, 77 lacked diesel and 39 lacked unleaded petrol out of 1,800. In Victoria, 82 lacked diesel and 40 lacked petrol out of 1,627. In South Australia, 20 lacked diesel and 13 lacked unleaded petrol out of 700. In Western Australia, 18 lacked diesel and 14 lacked unleaded petrol out of 771. In Tasmania, eight lacked diesel and 15 had unavailable grades out of 294. In the Northern Territory, five lacked diesel and four lacked unleaded petrol out of 180, with some shortages due to road closures. In the ACT, five lacked diesel and two lacked unleaded petrol, with shortages typically resolved within the same day.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer welcomed Lauren Jackson to the House and acknowledged the serious pressures on Australian families due to the Middle East war. He announced that the fuel excise would be halved from April for three months to provide relief to motorists and truck drivers. He described this as timely, targeted, temporary, and responsible relief. The Treasurer also highlighted other cost-of-living measures, including upcoming tax cuts, increased bulk-billing, cheaper medicines, and student debt relief. He noted a recent Fair Work Commission decision on youth wages and the Reserve Bank's announcement to end credit and debit card surcharges in October. He emphasized that the government was acting responsibly to ease pressures across multiple areas.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer acknowledged the issue as both an economic and social justice concern. He noted that Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) was established to address this, with its role strengthened in migration and skills recognition. JSA had released a study on integrating education, migration, and employment systems. The government had provided funding to streamline skills assessment for over 13,000 applicants, particularly in construction. New powers were given to the Minister for Skills and Training to improve assessment quality and timeliness. The Treasurer mentioned ongoing work with state and territory counterparts to prioritize skills recognition in high-demand areas like construction, health, and emerging industries. He also looked forward to insights from Martin Parkinson and Violet Roumeliotis at upcoming press events.

Answer from Catherine King

The Minister thanked the member and noted regular meetings with transport and fuel industries. She announced that the heavy vehicle road user charge would be reduced to zero for three months and the next scheduled increase deferred by six months. The fuel excise was halved for three months, saving 23.6 cents per litre. States and territories agreed to review registration charges and discuss GST returns. Legislation for the fuel decrease was introduced to provide relief to transport operators. The Minister cited support from various industry bodies, including the Australian Trucking Association, which noted savings of 32.4 cents per litre. She also mentioned changes to the Fair Work Act allowing truck drivers to renegotiate rates with retailers. The Minister criticized the opposition's past handling of fuel excise and road user charges, noting their costings were $1 billion short.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated clearly that he was satisfied with both the number of members in the House of Representatives and their composition.

Answer from Richard Marles

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the conflict was in its 32nd day and affected 115,000 Australians living in the Middle East. He stated that DFAT had dispatched crisis response teams and facilitated the return of over 10,000 Australians. Travel advisories were in place, including 'no travel' advice for 11 countries. He mentioned that over 100 Defence Force personnel were engaged in seven missions, including an E-7 Wedgetail supplied to the UAE with 85 support crew. Advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles were also supplied to the UAE. The Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged the impact on global oil prices and fuel supply chains. He reiterated support for the strategic objective of denying Iran a nuclear weapon while seeking to reduce hostilities.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister responded to an interjection and made three points. First, he was satisfied with the current 150 seats in the House of Representatives and 12 senators per state. Second, he was satisfied with the composition of the parliament. Third, he expressed confidence in his campaign director, Paul Erickson, implying that expanding the parliament would be unnecessary given the government's strong position.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The Minister stated that the government had focused on ensuring energy supply since 28 February. Actions included freeing up 20 per cent of the minimum stock obligation, altering sulphur and diesel rules, and confirming that cancelled ships were replaced. He noted that over 55 ships were en route to Australia with fuel, and 3.7 billion litres were contracted for April. Legislation was introduced to allow Export Finance Australia to finance risky spot cargoes. The Minister also highlighted progress in electricity, noting that over 300,000 home batteries had been installed since 1 July, including 1,508 in Corangamite, helping to store renewable energy and reduce gas use.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer criticized the opposition's fiscal record, noting their promises of higher taxes and deficits. He highlighted that the government had found $114 billion in savings across seven budgets, including $20 billion in the December update. He stated that the May budget would be responsible, focusing on savings, tax reform, and productivity. The Treasurer emphasized the government's achievement of turning deficits into surpluses and banking revenue revisions. He argued that the opposition's policies would have worsened inflation and economic challenges, citing their proposed $11 billion larger deficit.

Answer from Anika Wells

The Minister thanked the member and noted that five million under-16 social media accounts had been removed or restricted due to Australia's social media law. She criticized some platforms for doing the bare minimum and highlighted issues with age assurance systems and reporting pathways. The eSafety Commissioner was investigating potential noncompliance by Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. The Minister stated that Australia's leadership had inspired over a dozen countries to follow suit, with Canada's minister recently meeting to discuss expertise sharing. She emphasized the government's commitment to introducing a digital duty of care this year.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated he would meet with Zomi Frankcom's brother, Mal, that afternoon to express condolences. He noted that Australia had publicly condemned the killing of Zomi and her colleagues. The Prime Minister mentioned raising the issue with Israeli President Isaac Hertzog during his visit. He highlighted Australia's leadership in launching the Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel at the UN. The Prime Minister committed to continuing work to ensure transparency and appropriate action.

Answer from Amanda Rishworth

The Minister stated that the government advocated for real wage increases for minimum award workers, benefiting 2.7 million people. She noted that minimum wages had increased by over $9,000 annually over the term. Reforms to the Fair Work Act promoted gender equality and funded wage increases for aged-care and early childhood workers. Penalty and overtime rates were protected. The Minister welcomed the Fair Work Commission's ruling to end lower pay for young adults aged 18 to 20, phasing in pay rises. She recognized the SDA union's advocacy and emphasized the government's commitment to workers.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The Minister stated that over 53 ships were en route to Australia from various refineries, with 3.7 billion litres contracted for April. He acknowledged risks in the supply chain due to the Strait of Hormuz closure and highlighted government actions like releasing minimum stock obligations and introducing legislation to finance spot cargoes. He noted that Asian refineries supply both Australia and Asia, and that the government was in constant contact with international counterparts.

Answer from Julie Collins

The Minister stated that the government was postponing the requirement for exporters to pay the complete price for services for a twelve-month period ending on 1 July 2027 to provide certainty. She highlighted existing support mechanisms like the farm household allowance, concessional loans, financial counselling, and the Farm Management Deposit Scheme. A new Fertiliser Supply Working Group was established to improve fertiliser availability, building on legislation to underwrite fuel and fertiliser purchases. The Minister noted collaboration with the ACCC and industry to monitor supply and find alternative sources.

Answer from Jim Chalmers

The Treasurer noted that a Senate committee was examining these matters. He stated that government changes raised the count of entities liable for PRRT from 11 to 16, with oil and gas companies paying almost $12 billion in PRRT and company tax. He mentioned that Shell disclosed around $3 billion in taxes and payments, with two-thirds being corporate income tax. The Treasurer explained that a 90 per cent cap on deductions would apply to Shell's Gorgon and Prelude projects soon, leading to PRRT payments. He highlighted broader tax transparency reforms and committed to ensuring multinationals pay their fair share.

Answer from Kristy McBain

The Minister detailed impacts from Tropical Cyclone Fina, bushfires in NSW and Tasmania, monsoons in Queensland, heatwaves, and flooding. She noted disaster recovery funding was activated in affected areas. The government announced 96 projects in the $200 million Disaster Ready Fund, including levee upgrades and bushfire warning systems. A national emergency stockpile was established, and funding for the National Aerial Firefighting Fleet was increased. The Minister thanked members and communities for their support and resilience.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The Minister clarified that over 53 ships were currently en route, with some imminent and others just leaving refineries. He stated that the historical average of 81 ships per month was expected to continue into May. He confirmed 3.7 billion litres were on the water. Regarding Middle East exports, he noted that around 46 ships had left the Middle East through the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began, which was below pre-conflict levels. He mentioned Saudi Arabia increasing exports from Yanbu to bypass the Strait and highlighted ongoing engagement with international counterparts.

Answer from Madeleine King

The Minister thanked the member and highlighted government support for the resources sector. She noted over $28 billion committed to the critical minerals industry, including the Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive and the $1.2 billion Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve. The $3.4 billion Resourcing Australia's Prosperity program had found potential rare earth deposits. Investments included $1 billion through the National Reconstruction Fund for projects like Liontown and Alpha alumina, and $885 million in loans for six projects via the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility. Grants of over $150 million were provided for development and research, creating over 3,000 jobs.

Answer from Tony Burke

The Minister acknowledged the long-standing challenge of fire ants in Queensland. He stated that containment funding had continued under various governments, including the Howard government and the current administration. While complete eradication had not been achieved, the Minister emphasized that containment efforts made a significant difference and prevented a worse situation. He affirmed the government's commitment to continuing these containment efforts.

Answer from Anthony Albanese

The Prime Minister stated he had spoken with Josh, who farms canola, wheat, cereals, and cattle. Josh accessed fuel from Eyre Fuels, an independent operator facing acute issues due to system interactions with suppliers. The Prime Minister contacted Liberty, the supplier for the Port Lincoln fuel terminal, which had shortages but was prioritizing emergency services. A ship of fuel had arrived at the terminal. The Prime Minister confirmed Josh would receive fuel within 48 hours. He acknowledged the broader challenges faced by many Australians and committed to continuing assistance.

Answer from Chris Bowen

The Minister thanked taxi operators and stated that fuel supply to Australia continued at expected rates. He acknowledged regional shortages and highlighted increased sales at terminals in Gladstone and Mackay. The release of the minimum stockholding obligation had led to increased allocations to wholesalers and regional distributors, including for mining, rail, and Indigenous communities. The Minister offered to assist specific constituents by contacting fuel companies to address shortages. He expressed appreciation for the work of taxi operators supporting elderly and disabled Australians.

Answer from Mark Butler

The Minister thanked the member and highlighted a new PBS listing for Keytruda covering three new cancer types: locally advanced cervical cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and locally advanced head and neck cancer. The listing took effect the next day, reducing the cost from over $15,000 per infusion to $25. Over 10,000 patients annually were expected to benefit. The Minister shared testimonials from patients who expressed relief and hope due to the listing. He emphasized the government's commitment to making medicines affordable.