The Albanese Government is desperately trying to play catchup to deal with the issues of fuel supply only a week after Chris Bowen claimed that Australia’s fuel supplies were secure.
On 11 March Chris Bowen stated in Parliament that Australia's fuel supply was secure, yet the next day on 12 March he was referring to Australia’s fuel situation as a ‘national crisis’.
The Coalition has been calling on the Prime Minister to call a meeting of National Cabinet, and we welcome that that is occurring today.
National Cabinet has announced improved reporting of the fuel situation with state and territory governments reporting to a new fuel tsar – this is all necessary because of Chris Bowen has failed at his job.
Chris Bowen, the Minister who promised you $275 off your power bill has been rightly sidelined.
The six immediate priorities for the fuel tsar include:
1. Undertake a localised stock holding assessment to identify gaps in supply.
2. Develop an action plan to fill those gaps.
3. Undertake an assessment of fertiliser stocks and needs for the current planting season.
4. Continue to monitor import supply gaps in the weeks ahead and immediately address them.
5. Work with Viva and Ampol to ensure the refineries are working at maximum capacity and maintain the exemption of the low sulphur mandate as long as necessary.
6. Ensure that the ACCC is given the necessary legislative ability to discourage price gouging of petrol and diesel and release the draft immediately.
It is also critical that the new fuel tsar reports directly to National Cabinet rather than through the incompetent Chris Bowen.
Chris Bowen has been left flat footed and has not been focussing on Australia’s fuel supply needs since the Iran war began on 28 February – he needs to quit his UN role immediately or step down as Energy Minister.