Minister Bowen has yet again played politics on fuel supplies, Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster said, as Labor released 20 per cent of the baseline Minimum Stockholding Obligation (MSO) for petrol and diesel.

“Minister Bowen told a press conference on Friday the MSO was their policy – it wasn’t.  The Coalition legislated the MSO in Government and invested $260 million in increasing diesel storage by 40 per cent,” Dr Webster said.

“The Coalition-era diesel storage is why the release of fuel from the diesel MSO is possible – Labor have done nothing to improve our fuel storages. The Iran conflict began 13 days ago –  is today’s release of stored fuel the earliest date action could have been taken?,” Dr Webster asked.

“The Liberal-Nationals Coalition’s sustained pressure on Labor since the Iran conflict began has brought Labor kicking and screaming to start addressing the plight of regional Australians.  

“While Labor plays politics, Mallee residents are unable to get to medical appointments, unable to afford or even make the school run, the grocery run or participate in community life with extraordinary prices or no fuel in local bowsers.”

On Friday diesel prices in Mallee included 282.9 cents at Piangil, 269.9c in Goroke, Lakes Culluleraine and Charm, 268.9c at Woomelang, 265.9c at Beulah and Nyah, 264.9c at Wedderburn, 263.9c at Bridgewater-on-Loddon, 259.9c at Boort, Pyramid Hill and Halls Gap, and 256.9c in Murrayville.  

Analysis indicates it might take at least a week, if not several weeks, for the MSO relaxation to result in additional fuel deliveries to rural and remote areas.

Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster also ridiculed Minister Chris Bowen’s Thursday announcement that Labor would ‘support independent distributors and harvesters’ in regional Australia through an Ampol deal to release 100 million litres of higher sulphur content petrol to independent distributors.

“Harvesters, tractors, in fact most farm machinery and many farm vehicles, run on diesel, Chris – diesel! – not unleaded,” Dr Webster said.

“Worse still, Australia uses about 43 million litres of unleaded petrol a day, so sending 100 million litres of unleaded petrol to regional Australia helps a little, but not a lot – is that the best Labor can offer regional Australia?"

“Regional Australians are struggling to get fuel to get supplies from the supermarket, take the kids to school or sport or get to vital health appointments. Leanne from Kaniva told me she had to cancel a medical appointment yesterday in Horsham because she couldn’t get diesel at the local roadhouse.  That is where the rubber hits the road of Labor’s fuel supply crisis.

“Does Labor understand anything about regional fuel markets and our fuel and food security?”

A sustained barrage of Coalition questioning in Canberra this week on fuel supply has at least embarrassed Energy Minister Chris Bowen into a key admission, Dr Webster said.

“Thursday’s Ampol announcement means Minister Bowen has backflipped on his claims there is no fuel supply issue,” Dr Webster said.

“Regional Australians need real action from their Government so there’s unleaded and diesel at the local bowser and distributor.  Regional Australians expect a lot better than Thursday’s Ampol deal.

“Bowsers across Mallee are out of fuel, and I am hearing farm suppliers are unable to fulfil orders.

“This is a fuel security and a food security crisis on Labor’s watch.”

The former Coalition Government – under then Energy Minister, now Leader of the Opposition Angus Taylor - ran a $260 million Boosting Australia’s Diesel Storage Program from 2021 which built 780 million litres’ onshore diesel storage, increasing national capacity by 40 per cent.  Coalition funded diesel storages were built at Geelong and Newport (Vic), Port Adelaide (SA), Newcastle and Port Kembla (NSW), Kwinana and Port Hedland (WA) and Darwin ((NT).

The Minimum Stockholding Obligation currently being implemented to require companies to hold 32 days of diesel was also imposed by the former Coalition Government.

“Labor just don’t get it. They have not invested a cent in further diesel storage.  Instead, Labor has cooked the economic golden goose and spiked inflation and the cost-of-living for their own political objectives,” Dr Webster said.

“Australia needs a Coalition government in office that is 100 per cent focussed on Australians’ cost-of-living pressures and the nation’s economic, fuel and food security needs.”

As Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Dr Webster emphasised that - longer-term - canola crops from Mallee and beyond needed to be processed and added to Australian fuel supplies, not shipped to Europe where about 70 per cent goes at present.