TRANSCRIPT – Channel 9 Today Show

Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Attorney-General
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia

24 MARCH 2026

Channel 9 Today Show

Topics: Australia’s fuel supply crisis

E&OE

Karl Stefanovic

With the worst oil crisis in history. Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth and Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash joins us now to discuss. Good morning, ladies, nice to see you. Amanda, you’re first up. When do we run out of diesel?

Amanda Rishworth

Well, first I would say that there is very uncertain and difficult time, but I want to reassure Australians that we still have fuel coming to this country, and our government is working around the clock to secure that supply. Of course, in addition to that, we’re working with the states and territories to make sure we’re getting it where it’s needed. That is, of course, a challenge in the distribution change, but our government is working every day for practical measures to shield this country, households, as well as businesses from the worst of this. But there is a war. There is a lot of global uncertainty, a lot of global challenges, which we are working towards shielding Australians from.

Karl Stefanovic

So, can you guarantee supplies from Asian countries?

Amanda Rishworth

Look, what we are doing at the moment, is working very hard to secure our supply. Our current –

Karl Stefanovic

So you can’t guarantee them?

Amanda Rishworth

…national stockholding is high. Well, what I’m saying, Karl, is there is an uncertain time. We don’t know how long this war is going to go on for. We don’t know what assets might be attacked in any one day. What I can reassure people is that we are working every single day. At the moment, we still have fuel coming to this country, we’re working with states and territories to make sure that the distribution gets the fuel to where it needs to go, and looking at how we best shield Australians. And I’ll just give you one example. Today, I will be announcing some measures to support truckies in particular, to make sure that they get a fair go and that some of the costs we’re seeing are fairly shared across the supply chain, so we’re taking practical measures.

Karl Stefanovic

I don’t know what that means.

Amanda Rishworth

But of course –

Karl Stefanovic

What does that mean?

Amanda Rishworth

Well, well, well, we have, for example, doubled the penalties around price gouging. We are making –

Karl Stefanovic

No but what’s that announcement about truckies mean? I mean, none of this guarantees that people get fuel, is the problem. You say we’ve got supply, but it’s not getting out there. And the supply that’s out there is three bucks plus a litre. Michaelia, it looks like –

Karl Stefanovic

Well as you know –

Karl Stefanovic

Quickly.

Amanda Rishworth

Well, as you know, we have appointed a national fuel coordinator. These are, of course, difficult times around the world, but we are doing, of course, the coordination work that needs to be done.

Karl Stefanovic

What has the fuel tsar done to ease the prices and increase supply?

Amanda Rishworth

Well, well, of course, what they’re doing is working with states and territories to get fuel to where it’s needed. There’s been a number of fuel stations that didn’t have fuel that now are receiving fuel. We’re working around the clock, and we are in a very, very difficult circumstance. There is a war going on, and our government is taking every practical step we can to support Australia.

Karl Stefanovic

All right Michaelia, you’ve been patiently waiting. Let’s talk about those Asian countries, first up, because we need to work at solutions here, and we need to prepare. And the state governments want clarity on what that looks like. They don’t want to be a shemozzle like COVID was. So what would you do now? And how would you shore up supplies from Asia?

Senator Cash

Well, in the first instance, Karl, can I just respond to what Amanda said? Because after that, I think Australians will be more confused than ever. This is a government that three weeks ago were denying that there was a problem. This is a government that two weeks ago were blaming Australians, and just recently, they’ve discovered that, yes, there is a national fuel crisis in Australia. As of yesterday, Karl, there are 166 petrol stations across Australia that had run out of fuel. Here’s a practical measure. Why don’t we get petrol to those actual petrol stations that have run out of fuel? Karl, the government keeps telling us, though, that fuel supplies in Australia are strong. Well, then if fuel supplies are strong, the issue is actually a practical one. It is getting the fuel to Australians. The government, at any point in the day, knows exactly where the fuel is in Australia. Let’s trust them, Karl. Supply is strong. Well, then they have a problem. Get the fuel to Australians. Start doing the practical things, so Australians, when they go to the bowser, don’t find that yet another one has closed under their watch.

Karl Stefanovic

So you do know where the supply is. You just can’t get it to Australians, practically?

Senator Cash

That is exactly what our government implemented –

Karl Stefanovic

So Amanda –

Senator Cash

– the framework Karl, under which this government now works, but they are not utilising. They know where the fuel is. They have that granular data. They keep telling us supply is okay, Australia. So get the fuel to the bowsers.

Karl Stefanovic

Amanda, that’s a fair enough question. People don’t understand or comprehend because fuel stations are running out and farmers certainly don’t have it. So tell us Amanda –

Amanda Rishworth

Let’s be really clear. States and territories are responsible for distribution. We are working with them. Obviously, in some places, demand has far exceeded what they were expecting. So what we are doing is working with states and territories to ensure we are responding and getting fuel where it’s needed to go. We’re doing that work. We’re doing it. I know that Minister Bowen and the fuel supply coordinator is doing that on a daily basis.

Senator Cash

Karl, perhaps Minister Bowen needs to drive the tanker himself.

Amanda Rishworth

I didn’t hear any solutions from Michaelia.

Senator Cash

Seriously Amanda, excuses.

Amanda Rishworth

Just a whole lot of criticism and politics.

Karl Stefanovic

Appreciate your time.