PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: The Albanese Government's priority right now, given what we see in the world is, of course, keeping Australians safe abroad. But also dealing with the impact of the conflict in the Middle East at home. That is why we have taken strong action when it comes to the powers for the ACCC. To make sure we can crack down on price gouging and also calling really strongly on those who are involved in the fuel supply chain - do not take advantage of your customers. Now is not the time for price gouging. Further we have released fuel reserves and will continue to look at further measures to make sure we do everything possible to support Australian households and businesses.
The conversations that will happen in this building this week, include the Prime Minister meeting with the head of the International Energy Agency and the President of the European Commission. These are important conversations where we put forward both what Australia needs from our global partners, but also what Australia contributes to the world as we look for energy security.
Finally, you cannot avoid that in this great Federation of ours, there was a big democratic event on the weekend. I want to pass on my congratulations to Peter Malinauskas and the entire South Australian Labor team. One of people cheering along was Claire Clutterham. I will pass over to her, thanks.
CLAIRE CLUTTERHAM, MEMBER FOR STURT: I certainly was cheering SA Labor along on the weekend. It was a resounding victory for the Malinauskas Labor Government. They have been returned for another four years of working hard for the South Australian people. And what is really terrific about it, is this is a further four years for the Albanese Labor Government and Malinauskas Labor Government to continue to work together for the betterment of working South Australians.
And there are two great examples of these two Governments working together. And the first one is the support that the Federal and State Government gave to the Whyalla Steelworks. So, this is shoring up Australia's sovereign steel making capability, protecting jobs in regional South Australia. And secondly, Malinauskas and Albanese work hand in glove to make solid investments into the AUKUS program out at the Osborne Shipyard.
Now this is an economic opportunity as well as a national security imperative. The economic opportunity is well paid to secure meaningful jobs for decades to come in South Australia, and this includes for kids who haven't even been born yet. So, for the Labor Government to be returned in South Australia is good for South Australia, and it's also good for the country. Thank you.
JOURNALIST: Mr Gorman, I might just ask you, you mentioned the head of the IEA visiting today, meeting with the Prime Minister, on Friday. They issued a bunch of sort of directives or suggestions that people could do to limit fuel usage, including staying - working from home, limiting air travel and lowering speed limits. Is that something the Government is considering those options?
GORMAN: Well, of course, we have looked at what our fuel supplies are. And we are confident that people can continue to go about their business as they normally would. We will continue to use the measures that I have outlined around making sure that we crack down on price gouging. Making sure we release some part, but not a large part, of our strategic reserves. And we will continue to focus on supply into Australia. But what we know when it comes to work from home, work from home is already part of the Australian story. It is already something that exists where it helps employers and employees to get the best workplace possible. That is what we see every day. I know some in other parties have tried to end work from home. Some in other parties have wanted to say that it should be illegal to work from home. What we want is to make sure that employers and employees can come to arrangements that work for them, and in some circumstances, that means work from home. But it is nothing new for Australia.
JOURNALIST: And just as well, there are some people who are now calling for Chris Bowen to invoke the powers he's got under the law to direct fuel to where it's needed, especially in regional parts of Australia. Do you think we are at that point where it needs that ministerial directive?
GORMAN: We have had ministerial conversations happening with a range of stakeholders over the last few weeks. We are confident that right now, the best way to get the fuel to the places it is needed is through cooperation. Is through consultation and communication. That is what is going to make the difference. I was at Northam last week, where even in the inner part of the rural parts of our sort of Wheatbelt in Western Australia, some of these concerns were being raised. We will continue to have those conversations, because we want to hear where things are working, where there are opportunities for government and industry to do more. But right now, it's time for team Australia to cooperate. That is how we are going to make sure that we get the fuel that we do have to the places where it is needed.
JOURNALIST: What are you hearing from the people in the Wheatbelt - what were their particular struggles at the moment?
GORMAN: As they are coming up to the sort of seeding season, they are obviously wanting to make sure that they have got enough of the energy they need on farms to ensure that they can obviously get the most out of their crops. We have had some bumper seasons in the West over the last few years. And they really appreciated the dialogue. I met with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry out there. I met with a range of employees. I met went to the Muresk Institute, which trains up the apprentices that then go and work on the farms. But of course, like every Australian, we are seeing what is happening in the global economy. We are seeing what is happening in the Middle East with a conflict that is raging, and of course, that drives concern. That is why it is important that we have the dialogue about what it is that we can do here in Australia to support one another.
JOURNALIST: Do they have enough fuel at the moment?
GORMAN: At the moment they do, yes.
JOURNALIST: Will they continue to?
GORMAN: What we have continued to do is to make sure that we look at all the things necessary to keep the range of supplies to Australia there, so that we do have fuel for businesses, for our farms, for our cities. And I would also note, and I think this is a really important point that, you know, I am from Western Australia. We are a massive energy exporter, and Australia is a net energy exporter. That is something I think we are rightly proud of. It is a big part of our economy, but it is also a big part of the discussions about making sure that we do have not just sovereign energy capability, but also really good productive dialogue with our trading partners. Thank you.
JOURNALIST: Thank you.