❓ Mrs Warr questions the removal of fuel storage in Geraldton amidst overseas conflict impacting fuel supply. The Minister responds by outlining the government's comprehensive fuel plan, including stockpiles and regulations to ensure fair pricing.
AnsweredQoN 227Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Fuel supply—Geraldton storage facility
227. Mrs Kirrilee Warr to
the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I refer to fuel
storage facilities in Geraldton that were removed amid the conflict overseas
that has impacted fuel supply, and the state government's difficulty in finding
storage in the regions for its fuel supply.
(1) Why was a storage facility removed at
a time when concerns about fuel supply are real?
(2) What alternatives are there to ensure
that Geraldton, the Mid West and the Gascoyne do not miss out on fuel supply
amid this crisis?
227. Mrs Kirrilee Warr to
the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation:
I refer to fuel
storage facilities in Geraldton that were removed amid the conflict overseas
that has impacted fuel supply, and the state government's difficulty in finding
storage in the regions for its fuel supply.
(1) Why was a storage facility removed at
a time when concerns about fuel supply are real?
(2) What alternatives are there to ensure
that Geraldton, the Mid West and the Gascoyne do not miss out on fuel supply
amid this crisis?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The member for Geraldton knows well that
this government has been highly responsive to the challenges, particularly for
regional areas, when it comes to fuel supply. We have undertaken a
comprehensive plan to map storage facilities across the state, and we are
continuing to do that work. We have announced a seven-point fuel plan, which
included fertiliser in its first iteration, member for Central Wheatbelt, that
prioritises fuel and fertiliser through our ports. We put the first stockpile
in Wyndham, which is a very vulnerable area of the state. It has one of the
most isolated ports in the country. We also have stockpiles in Esperance and
Kwinana. The Kwinana stockpile is specifically allocated for the Wheatbelt.
Esperance will support the Great Southern and Kalgoorlie, and we are working
through the other options and availabilities. There are other ports across the
state, including in Albany and Geraldton, and they are under consideration. In
fact, we were made aware that the Albany fuel tanks were about to be demolished
and I personally intervened to stop that.
We
are working through how we need to support these communities. Under the
Premier, this government has done more than any other state. We were the
first and I think the only state to have its own strategic stockpile to support
regional communities alone. We have ensured that every fuel retailer is
included in FuelWatch under the Minister for Commerce. We have also implemented
regulations under the emergency orders to compel pricing information to ensure
that the cut to the excise tax is being passed on. I note from a recent article
in the Midwest Times that, in fact, Mid
West service stations have been responsible for more than a quarter of those
fines issued by FuelWatch as the laws are tightened around mandatory reporting.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: The laws and regulations that
this government has put in place are cracking down on fuel retailers for
ripping off the members of her own community. She should back that in! We are
supporting the community. It does not matter where people live, they deserve
access to the cheapest fuel. They deserve that access. That is what this
government is ensuring.
this government has been highly responsive to the challenges, particularly for
regional areas, when it comes to fuel supply. We have undertaken a
comprehensive plan to map storage facilities across the state, and we are
continuing to do that work. We have announced a seven-point fuel plan, which
included fertiliser in its first iteration, member for Central Wheatbelt, that
prioritises fuel and fertiliser through our ports. We put the first stockpile
in Wyndham, which is a very vulnerable area of the state. It has one of the
most isolated ports in the country. We also have stockpiles in Esperance and
Kwinana. The Kwinana stockpile is specifically allocated for the Wheatbelt.
Esperance will support the Great Southern and Kalgoorlie, and we are working
through the other options and availabilities. There are other ports across the
state, including in Albany and Geraldton, and they are under consideration. In
fact, we were made aware that the Albany fuel tanks were about to be demolished
and I personally intervened to stop that.
We
are working through how we need to support these communities. Under the
Premier, this government has done more than any other state. We were the
first and I think the only state to have its own strategic stockpile to support
regional communities alone. We have ensured that every fuel retailer is
included in FuelWatch under the Minister for Commerce. We have also implemented
regulations under the emergency orders to compel pricing information to ensure
that the cut to the excise tax is being passed on. I note from a recent article
in the Midwest Times that, in fact, Mid
West service stations have been responsible for more than a quarter of those
fines issued by FuelWatch as the laws are tightened around mandatory reporting.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: The laws and regulations that
this government has put in place are cracking down on fuel retailers for
ripping off the members of her own community. She should back that in! We are
supporting the community. It does not matter where people live, they deserve
access to the cheapest fuel. They deserve that access. That is what this
government is ensuring.
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