❓ Opposition questions Premier about conflicting information regarding fuel supply security amidst Middle East conflict, referencing a WA Country Health Service email indicating potential shortages. Premier acknowledges localised issues due to demand peaks but assures no immediate threat to contracted supplies.
AnsweredQoN 114Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Fuel supply—Security
114. Mr Basil Zempilas to
the Premier:
I refer to the
Premier's public comments yesterday that there are no direct impacts to fuel
supply in Australia as a result of the conflict in the Middle East and there is
no need for panic buying.
Why did the WA
Country Health Service this week send an email headed "Anticipated fuel
shortages" requesting staff to immediately ensure their vehicles are at
least three-quarters filled, stating that fuel availability cannot be
guaranteed?
114. Mr Basil Zempilas to
the Premier:
I refer to the
Premier's public comments yesterday that there are no direct impacts to fuel
supply in Australia as a result of the conflict in the Middle East and there is
no need for panic buying.
Why did the WA
Country Health Service this week send an email headed "Anticipated fuel
shortages" requesting staff to immediately ensure their vehicles are at
least three-quarters filled, stating that fuel availability cannot be
guaranteed?
AnswerView source ↗
I stand by my
comments yesterday. They are comments that are also echoed by the Minister for
Energy and the federal government, and that is that all contracted supplies of
fuel to Australia have been met and continue to be met. I am advised that there
is no direct impact to fuel supply in Australia and that fuel continues to
arrive in expected volumes.
We have all
acknowledged and we have all seen that there have been some localised shortages
as a result of a peak in demand and purchases at the bowser. That is
particularly felt in places where they do not have more robust or more frequent
supply chain visitations, and, as a result of that, we are seeing in some
places—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: —where they cannot immediately
respond to the peak in demand by extra tankers bringing in fuel, we then have
those temporary shortages.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: I know the other side is keen to
somehow demonstrate that—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Sorry, Premier. Premier, please
pause.
Members of the
opposition, you have asked the Premier a question. The Premier is responding.
Show a bit of respect to that response. You may not like what he is saying, and
you will get the opportunity to ask a supplementary.
Mr Roger Cook: I am advised that panic buying is
leading to temporary disruptions to supply at some retailers. We have
acknowledged this, and it is something that is being felt across a number of
different areas. That is why we have our fuel security round table today, which
we are convening to make sure that we understand exactly what is happening on
the ground so that we can decide on the next steps and ensure that WA remains
resilient to potential challenges.
There is a conflict
overseas at the moment, which is not in our control, but we can control what we
do in terms of our response to it. That is why we are bringing industry,
consumers, retailers, wholesalers and industry representatives that rely upon
fuel supply chains to make sure we understand what those experiences are, but,
more importantly, understand—
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse, please do not
interject.
Mr Roger Cook: Then we can understand how we can
respond to those challenges as we move forward.
There is potential
that this conflict will continue and there is potential that this conflict will
lead to global supply chain constraints on crude oil and that those supply
chain constraints may lead to fuel supplies into Australia being challenged,
but the advice we have received at the moment is that there is no immediate
threat to those supply chains, and we—
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition! Please stop
your interjecting.
Mr Roger Cook: We are advised that there is no
immediate threat to those supply chains, but we cannot guarantee that that will
not be the case, and that is why it is important that we work together as a
community to understand how we will respond in the event that it is very much
the case.
comments yesterday. They are comments that are also echoed by the Minister for
Energy and the federal government, and that is that all contracted supplies of
fuel to Australia have been met and continue to be met. I am advised that there
is no direct impact to fuel supply in Australia and that fuel continues to
arrive in expected volumes.
We have all
acknowledged and we have all seen that there have been some localised shortages
as a result of a peak in demand and purchases at the bowser. That is
particularly felt in places where they do not have more robust or more frequent
supply chain visitations, and, as a result of that, we are seeing in some
places—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: —where they cannot immediately
respond to the peak in demand by extra tankers bringing in fuel, we then have
those temporary shortages.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: I know the other side is keen to
somehow demonstrate that—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Sorry, Premier. Premier, please
pause.
Members of the
opposition, you have asked the Premier a question. The Premier is responding.
Show a bit of respect to that response. You may not like what he is saying, and
you will get the opportunity to ask a supplementary.
Mr Roger Cook: I am advised that panic buying is
leading to temporary disruptions to supply at some retailers. We have
acknowledged this, and it is something that is being felt across a number of
different areas. That is why we have our fuel security round table today, which
we are convening to make sure that we understand exactly what is happening on
the ground so that we can decide on the next steps and ensure that WA remains
resilient to potential challenges.
There is a conflict
overseas at the moment, which is not in our control, but we can control what we
do in terms of our response to it. That is why we are bringing industry,
consumers, retailers, wholesalers and industry representatives that rely upon
fuel supply chains to make sure we understand what those experiences are, but,
more importantly, understand—
Ms Libby Mettam interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Vasse, please do not
interject.
Mr Roger Cook: Then we can understand how we can
respond to those challenges as we move forward.
There is potential
that this conflict will continue and there is potential that this conflict will
lead to global supply chain constraints on crude oil and that those supply
chain constraints may lead to fuel supplies into Australia being challenged,
but the advice we have received at the moment is that there is no immediate
threat to those supply chains, and we—
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition! Please stop
your interjecting.
Mr Roger Cook: We are advised that there is no
immediate threat to those supply chains, but we cannot guarantee that that will
not be the case, and that is why it is important that we work together as a
community to understand how we will respond in the event that it is very much
the case.
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