❓ Mr Michel asks about fuel security and cyclone recovery. The Premier details government actions including fuel security measures, financial support, and disaster relief efforts following Cyclone Narelle.
AnsweredQoN 197Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Fuel supply—Regions
197. Mr Kevin Michel to
the Premier:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to support the Western Australian community
through the current challenges.
(1) Can the Premier outline to the house
how the Cook Labor government is securing WA's fuel supply?
(2) Can the Premier detail how the
government is supporting the communities affected by the devastation of Cyclone
Narelle?
197. Mr Kevin Michel to
the Premier:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to support the Western Australian community
through the current challenges.
(1) Can the Premier outline to the house
how the Cook Labor government is securing WA's fuel supply?
(2) Can the Premier detail how the
government is supporting the communities affected by the devastation of Cyclone
Narelle?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for his question, and
I want to acknowledge the member for Pilbara for the support that he has been
providing his community through these uncertain and challenging times. These
are uncertain and challenging times for people in the Pilbara and for Western
Australians more broadly with the fuel shock as a result of the Middle East
conflict and, of course, the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Narelle. In the
face of these challenges, we are responding. This government has supported
Western Australians through challenging times before. I was the Minister for
Health during the COVID pandemic and I know what it takes to stare down global
challenges and do what is right for WA. In fact, we have led the nation in our
fuel response in a way that only an experienced government can. We were the
first Australian government to convene a fuel security round table with
industry. We announced a seven-point plan to secure our fuel distribution, we appointed
a Fuel Security State Controller to oversee supply, we convened the Security
and Emergency Committee of Cabinet, and we did not hesitate to put in place
emergency powers to give us full visibility of the fuel supply chain in Western
Australia, which we are here to ratify today. We have also strengthened
FuelWatch, we are providing targeted support for industry and, in partnership
with the Albanese government, we have funded a 32c reduction in the excise on
fuel, including diesel.
In recent weeks, we have also
seen the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Narelle. I have seen the confronting
situation firsthand. Two weeks ago, I visited Exmouth and Carnarvon, and I saw
how challenging the situation is for residents in the community, including with
the shire president of Exmouth, Matthew Niikkula, who introduced me to State
Emergency Service volunteers and took me through its evacuation centre. I heard
about the impacts to businesses and livelihoods, such as those of local growers
Rob Scott, Les Ball and Chris Collins, who showed me the damage done to
banana plantations in Carnarvon. In response to the devastation, I activated
the Premier's Natural Disaster Recovery Fund for the first time. This fund can
now offer financial support to households, community groups and businesses,
including primary producers like Rob, Les and Chris. Of course, this fund is in
addition to disaster recovery arrangements already being provided by the
Premier's relief payments, the tourism business support package and the jointly
funded state–Commonwealth recovery payments.
These are challenging and
uncertain times, but members of the Western Australian community can have
confidence that our experienced government is supporting them. We know that
West Aussies are tough, but we know that many are struggling at the moment from
both the impact of the Middle East conflict in relation to fuel and the direct
impacts of Tropical Cyclone Narelle. We will always do what is right for WA and
make the decisions that we need to keep Western Australia strong.
I want to acknowledge the member for Pilbara for the support that he has been
providing his community through these uncertain and challenging times. These
are uncertain and challenging times for people in the Pilbara and for Western
Australians more broadly with the fuel shock as a result of the Middle East
conflict and, of course, the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Narelle. In the
face of these challenges, we are responding. This government has supported
Western Australians through challenging times before. I was the Minister for
Health during the COVID pandemic and I know what it takes to stare down global
challenges and do what is right for WA. In fact, we have led the nation in our
fuel response in a way that only an experienced government can. We were the
first Australian government to convene a fuel security round table with
industry. We announced a seven-point plan to secure our fuel distribution, we appointed
a Fuel Security State Controller to oversee supply, we convened the Security
and Emergency Committee of Cabinet, and we did not hesitate to put in place
emergency powers to give us full visibility of the fuel supply chain in Western
Australia, which we are here to ratify today. We have also strengthened
FuelWatch, we are providing targeted support for industry and, in partnership
with the Albanese government, we have funded a 32c reduction in the excise on
fuel, including diesel.
In recent weeks, we have also
seen the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Narelle. I have seen the confronting
situation firsthand. Two weeks ago, I visited Exmouth and Carnarvon, and I saw
how challenging the situation is for residents in the community, including with
the shire president of Exmouth, Matthew Niikkula, who introduced me to State
Emergency Service volunteers and took me through its evacuation centre. I heard
about the impacts to businesses and livelihoods, such as those of local growers
Rob Scott, Les Ball and Chris Collins, who showed me the damage done to
banana plantations in Carnarvon. In response to the devastation, I activated
the Premier's Natural Disaster Recovery Fund for the first time. This fund can
now offer financial support to households, community groups and businesses,
including primary producers like Rob, Les and Chris. Of course, this fund is in
addition to disaster recovery arrangements already being provided by the
Premier's relief payments, the tourism business support package and the jointly
funded state–Commonwealth recovery payments.
These are challenging and
uncertain times, but members of the Western Australian community can have
confidence that our experienced government is supporting them. We know that
West Aussies are tough, but we know that many are struggling at the moment from
both the impact of the Middle East conflict in relation to fuel and the direct
impacts of Tropical Cyclone Narelle. We will always do what is right for WA and
make the decisions that we need to keep Western Australia strong.
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