Interview with Karl Stefanovic, The Today Show, Channel Nine

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST:    Life will not be returning to normal for some time. That's according to the global energy boss, who's warned they're likely grappling with the worst oil crisis in history. Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth and Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash join 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, MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS:    Well, first I would say that there it is a 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. 

KARL STEFANOVIC:    So, you can’t guarantee them.

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    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. What does that mean?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    Well, we have, for example, doubled the penalties around price gouging. 

KARL STEFANOVIC:    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 $3 plus a litre. 

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 with the states and territories in these difficult times.

KARL STEFANOVIC:    What has the fuel czar- what has the fuel czar done to ease the prices and increase supply?

AMANDA RISHWORTH:    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. 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 Australians’ households.

KARL STEFANOVIC:    Alright, 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?

MICHAELIA CASH, LIBERALS SENATOR:    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. If the 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.

MICHAELIA CASH:    That is exactly what our government implemented. 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 OK, Australia, so get the fuel to the bowsers that need it.

KARL STEFANOVIC:    So, Amanda, it's a fair enough question. That is exactly what- people don't understand or comprehend because fuel stations are running out and farmers certainly don't have it in some parts of the country. So tell us, Amanda, what you're doing to get the supply out there.

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. These are very difficult circumstances…

MICHAELIA CASH:    Karl, perhaps Minister Bowen very needs to drive a tanker himself…

AMANDA RISHWORTH:   And what I didn’t hear any solutions from Michaelia Cash.

KARL STEFANOVIC:    We've got to run, ladies. Appreciate it. The clock is ticking.

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