Fuel Security

Senator HENDERSON (Victoria) (15:13): My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. Yesterday, you said that you would find the information if you can about exactly what date the government became aware of the six shipments of vital fuel supplies being cancelled. It having been a further 24 hours, can you now tell us when the government became aware?

Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (15:14): I should say as well that I'm advised by the minister's office in relation to that nine per cent figure that I used yesterday that the figure today is eight per cent, in relation to Senator Chandler's question. Since the beginning of the crisis in the Middle East, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy has been in daily contact with relevant fuel companies, and they've been sharing with government commercial-in-confidence information, and, in turn, the government has been sharing what it knows with those companies. Over the last couple of weeks, companies have been telling the minister and the government that they've locked in supply until mid-April. What the government won't do is tweet out or release commercial-in-confidence information on a daily basis.

On Saturday, the minister spoke to industry representatives and asked his department to confirm the ships that have been cancelled. In a way that does not breach commercial-in-confidence, the minister provided the information in an aggregate way on Sunday's interview. The opposition could be, in this case—

Senator Henderson: A point of order on direct relevance. My question was when the government became aware of the six cancelled ships.

The PRESIDENT: I'm aware of your question, Senator Henderson, and the minister is being directly relevant to your question.

Senator AYRES: As I've indicated, the information that we've provided is information that we believe is in the public interest in a way that doesn't breach the commercial-in-confidence obligations that the minister has in those discussions. And, as I've indicated, there are two ways that a party of opposition can conduct itself when there's a set of national challenges. One is to hector and to conduct a sort of hyperventilation and—

Senator AYRES: I think maybe the real grievance politics, Senator Paterson— (Time expired)

The PRESIDENT: Senator Henderson, first supplementary?

Senator HENDERSON (Victoria) (15:16): Minister, this is not a matter of something being commercial in confidence; this is in the national interest. Yesterday, when asked whether any further fuel shipments had been contracted, you again said you would try to get that further information. It's been 24 hours. I, again, ask about when you learnt about the six cancelled shipments and whether any further shipments have been contracted. I, again, stress that this is a matter of national interest.

Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (15:17): Senator, I'd just refer you to my previous answer. As I said yesterday, if there's more information that we can provide about when information was provided—I did say, in my previous answer, that, on Saturday, the minister spoke to industry representatives and asked his department to confirm the ships that have been cancelled. But I do say there are two ways of conducting yourself as an opposition when there is a challenge. You can, as Senator Cash says, ask questions. You can provide positive solutions, or you can just continue to degenerate in the way that you have. You can continue to hyperventilate and you can continue to run a negative, carping and partisan campaign, or you can front up in the national interest. There's a first time for everything, I suppose. (Time expired)

The PRESIDENT: Senator Henderson, second supplementary?