Julian Simmonds (Ryan, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak in support of the substantive Fuel Security Bill 2021 and speak about its importance to securing our long-term fuel security. It is a very important bill, as the previous Labor speaker, the member for McMahon, has pointed out, and we are pleased that the Labor Party is supporting it today.

I did note from the previous member's speech that Labor is having a bob each way, as they always do, and that the member spent more time trying to defend his failed electric vehicle policy from the last election than he did supporting the legislation. It just goes to show that the member opposite in particular and all those Labor members opposite still don't understand why they lost the last election and still want to prosecute this idea that somehow the voters got it wrong. The voters didn't get it wrong. Could it just be that, rather than sitting around in their homes, waiting for the member for McMahon to tell them that they had to take up an electric vehicle by a certain date, they might just like to make the choice of which vehicle they drive for themselves? I think the member for McMahon probably needs to jettison his failed policy, move on and support this particular legislation wholeheartedly, which he had the opportunity to do.

With that, I want to acknowledge the work done by Minister Taylor in putting together this particular piece of legislation. I know that he's passionate about keeping power prices down and providing certainty in energy markets. He's also a keen advocate for renewable technologies. He understands, as the government does, that for us to be able to back jobs, keep prices low and invest more in new energy sources we need a technology approach, not a taxes approach—the very opposite of what the member for McMahon and Labor propose. I thank the minister very much for the work that he's done in this space. The past 18 months have shown us why this bill is so important. The unexpected can happen. Our global supply chains can come to a halt for reasons beyond our control, and we have to have plans in place to secure the resources that we need, in this case our fuel reserves.

While many of us were forced to work from home during the pandemic, many were out on our roads delivering the essential services that we needed. If anything, the COVID-19 pandemic has allowed us to truly appreciate those essential workers—the truck drivers that delivered to Woolies and Coles and made sure that people had the food stocks that they needed, the farmers that made sure that our shelves were stocked, and the many fuel-dependent industries that kept on trucking so that we could keep going through the COVID-19 pandemic. It is with them in mind that we approach this bill. We know that fuel is crucial for the security of those truckers, farmers and tradies and the everyday commuters, and it must be secured in order to protect Australian jobs. Australia has shown that we can be self-sufficient in tough times, but to continue to do so we must have the legislative framework in place that locks in our sovereign capacity.

The measures in this bill will secure our fuel stocks, protect motorists from future high prices and recognise the fuel security services provided by our Australian refineries and the importance of having Australian based refineries. The bill addresses this in two important ways. Firstly, there is the fuel security services payment. As a proud Brisbane local, I'm pleased that this agreement also includes the Ampol refinery in Brisbane, which supports hundreds of local jobs. Backing both the Ampol refinery in Brisbane and the Geelong facility means securing our domestic refining capability into the future. These facilities will receive a variable payment to ensure they can continue operation, but, importantly, only when they need it. These facilities will not be paid when making a profit, only when the payment is needed to secure their ongoing capacity. When the Prime Minister visited the Ampol refinery recently, in my wonderful state of Queensland, he spoke on our commitment to fuel quality. We're working with refineries to bring forward our fuel quality improvements, from 2027 to 2024, by co-investing with them to ensure they can make the necessary infrastructure upgrades for low-sulphur fuel production. In the Geelong facility, in Victoria, that investment in the upgrade will see another 1,750 jobs for the local economy.

The second measure in this bill, which I think is just as important if not more important, legislates a minimum stockholding obligation. That is the baseline level of fuel that will be required to be held at all times. Commencing from 1 July next year, Australia will have a reserve level of fuel for our domestic needs at all times, futureproofing us against the unexpected global shocks that we now have a greater appreciation for, having been through the COVID-19 pandemic. This will apply across all major fuel types and enable the minister to set targets for fuel types at appropriate levels for Australia's sovereign needs. It is important we protect our fuel stocks. If we don't, those hardest hit will be Australian families and the essential workers that we rely on. I want to quote Dan Walton, the national secretary of the Australian Workers Union. It's not often that I quote the Australian Workers Union, but you know you're onto a good thing when even some of the most strident critics of the government can see the virtue in what you're doing. His quote was pretty simple:

We are extremely satisfied … The security of the production payment provision, along with the investment to make cleaner fuel, will underpin longevity for both refineries. Today's announcement will save thousands of jobs, both directly at the refineries and indirectly through jobs supported in the community.

It's not often I agree with the AWU, but I have to say that on this occasion they are spot on. That is what the outcome of this piece of legislation will be. We've also seen endorsements from across a range of stakeholders, including the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, the Australian Trucking Association, Volkswagen and many more.

I spoke earlier about the minister's commitment to a range of different energies, including renewable energies, and it is important that we speak to those in the debate today. As part of the announcement, we have reaffirmed our commitment to work with both of these major refineries on their plans to consider future fuel technologies. We want these refineries to play a role in the rollout of fuels like electric vehicle charging and hydrogen infrastructure.

The Morrison government has already committed over $1.2 billion to increase the uptake of low- and zero-emission vehicle technologies, including $74 million through its future fuels package. Research on hydrogen fuels and hydrogen technology is being done in my own electorate of Ryan, in the suburb of Pullenvale, with local residents leading the way in Australia for that research. We understand that the future is renewables but we will not devastate industries or burden taxpayers—as those opposite will—without a transition plan. That's the path that we are on, a path that backs jobs and families and protects our environment, with a technology-not-taxes approach. It's a path that also ensures that we have the sovereign capability that Australia needs, that Australia's essential industries are protected with the fuel security that they need. That's what this bill will do. I commend the bill to the House.

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