Television Interview - Sky News Afternoon Agenda

ASHLEIGH GILLON, HOST: Welcome back. You're with Afternoon Agenda. More now on the domestic pressures facing Australians as a result of the war in Iran, joining us live from Canberra, the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman. Patrick, good to see you. Thank you for your time. The reassurances that we're hearing from your government in Question Time around fuel security doesn't seem to match with what drivers are saying is their lived experience of long lines, high prices, a lack of diesel at petrol stations, particularly in regional areas. The reassurance about the availability of fertiliser doesn't match with what farmers are being told by their suppliers. You've accused the government [sic] of spreading fear on those fronts, but it seems there's a disconnect between what Australians are seeing and hearing for themselves and what the ministers are saying in Parliament.

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: Well, Ash, firstly, what I will say to all of your viewers is, it is important that we buy the fuel that people need for their businesses, for their farms and for their day-to-day lives. But there is no benefit in panic buying. There is no benefit in stocking up with more than you need. We have significant reserves here in Australia, some 36 days of petrol reserves. That is about 1.5 billion litres. We have not had to rely on those reserves. The normal supply chains are rolling through. But I do acknowledge in some regional areas in my home state of Western Australia and around the country, there have been some shortages at some fuel stations. What we're hearing from providers and independent retailers is that they are seeing significant increases in the demand for their product, and that is why it is so important that all of us say 'let's just buy what we need'. Not to do that excessive stocking up. It is not necessary, and it is causing some of these challenges in the last bit of the supply chain. And I really call on the Liberal Party and the National Party to be a bit more responsible in their commentary.

GILLON: Okay, well, that's fuel. What about fertiliser? You mentioned your home state of WA. Farmers — they're feeling very nervous about the season ahead. 

GORMAN: Obviously there are supplies available now, but we are seeing congestion in our shipping where it is coming out of the Middle East, where we've seen conflict. That is the reality of conflict. We have seen supply chain disruptions. What I think is important is what we're doing for the future. We know that we rely on fertiliser, and we're a really proud agricultural economy, where we sell a lot to the world. That is why Madeleine King was talking in Question Time just a few moments ago about the significant investment happening in Western Australia to build the Perdaman urea plant. That will provide one of the essential parts of fertiliser so that we do have more domestic manufacturing — one of the largest manufacturing projects ever undertaken in Australia. It will make a big difference, and we will continue to have — as we have with the Minister for Agriculture — discussions with farmers and discussions with supply chain operators to make sure that we have the supplies we need over the months ahead.

GILLON: Yeah, well, look as for the now, it sounds like we're going to hear a lot more about this fertiliser problem in the coming days and weeks. It is a real issue that farmers are raising right around the country. I did want to ask you about another news story today. Clive Palmer, he's back. Do you expect this time he'll be able to capitalise on the anti-major party trend that we've seen showing up in the polls?

GORMAN: Look, Clive Palmer — I think the Australian people have seen through him. Clive has spent millions and millions — hundreds of millions — of dollars at different elections. And I think even the Liberal Party, who when Angus Taylor was in Cabinet, the Liberal Party were happy to back Clive Palmer in the High Court against my home state of Western Australia. I think even the Liberal Party have given up on Clive. I don't even think your viewers know anymore what it is that Clive Palmer stands for, other than buying newspaper ads. That seems to be his only policy. He is sort of everywhere, but he doesn't have a solution to anything.

GILLON: What about the duo of Angus Taylor and Matt Canavan? We've got this new look team. Do you expect that this is going to be a tougher fight for you at the next election?

GORMAN: I never underestimate the challenge of getting elected, either at my constituency of Perth, or the challenge of getting elected as a Labor Government at any election. We have always got to work hard, fight hard, and put forward plans for the future. But when it comes to Matt Canavan, I think he is a fake. Matt Canavan is a guy who goes and puts coal dust on his face. He is a guy who did a press conference today talking about backing manufacturing. Let me tell your viewers — when it comes to voting for manufacturing in the Senate where he is, he didn't vote for the Future Made in Australia Bill. He voted against it. But I think people will see through this duo, because a lot of the energy challenges we were just talking about, let's not forget that Angus Taylor was the Energy Minister who left all of these problems for Labor to clean up. We are pretty proud of what we've done when it comes to better fuel reserves here in Australia. And thank God that Angus Taylor was not Energy Minister, or all of our fuel would still be stored in Texas.

GILLON: Patrick Gorman, good to have you on. Thanks your time. 

GORMAN: Thanks Ash 

END