Senator McDONALD (Queensland—Deputy Leader of the Nationals in the Senate) (16:26): Thank you very much, Acting Deputy President. This afternoon has caused me grave concerns about the quality of representation in this parliament. We have heard the most bizarre comments. We have heard that there's not a problem, that there's plenty of fuel and that the government is managing it, when there are signs at the Brisbane fuel terminal right now that say, 'Independents, do not enter.' They're the very fuel companies that supply regional northern New South Wales and regional South-East Queensland. These are the places that are seeing ships, the shipping fleet, unable to go out and catch fish, because there are no deliveries of fuel for their boats. This is the same government that says that there's no problem for farmers who are trying to harvest but can't get fuel for their tractors and headers. This is the same government that says there is not a problem when there are feedlots that cannot get fuel in order to supply food to the cattle and are talking about shooting them. This is the same government that says there is no problem when they are rationing fuel into mining regions right now. This is the same government that says that it wasn't their responsibility to take action last week when it became apparent that there was going to be a problem with supply and that Australians were rushing down to petrol stations to fill up their cars and make sure that they had enough. Last week, when the resources minister and the infrastructure minister got up and said prices were stable—well, that's not true. Prices are up by at least 60c a litre in parts of Queensland, where I'm from. This is the same government that said, 'Supply's not a problem.' In fact, members of the government are still repeating this rubbish today. They're saying that there's never been more fuel in Australia. Well, that doesn't help the people who can't get it, does it! If it is locked up in places where Australians can't get it, they can't go and get fish, they can't harvest their crops, they're having to shoot their stock and mining companies have to cut back on their workforce and activity. It doesn't matter what lies and fabrications—I'm sorry, Acting Deputy President. I withdraw 'lies'. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Polley ): Senator, I will ask you to withdraw those comments. Senator McDONALD: I did just say I would withdraw that. I apologise. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator. Senator McDONALD: This government is completely fabricating the truth by saying that there is plenty of fuel when there obviously is not. And it wasn't the opposition that started this. You all should personally know that you would have got phone calls from your families, from your neighbours, from small businesses, saying, 'Should I go and fill up with fuel?' We knew there was a problem last week. Senator O'Sullivan: They live in a bubble. Senator McDONALD: They live in a bubble. If you are coming to Canberra, I think you've got no idea of what is going on. There are service stations around Queensland where fuel has jumped by 40c to 60c a litre. Small trucking businesses that supply around the state and around the country, including those that move food back into the capital cities, are going broke. They can't pay these bills. We can't have a flood recovery effort without fuel. In fact, we can't have the repairs and maintenance done on roads in regional Australia without absorbing these massive increases in fuel costs. And guess who pays? Well, the taxpayer pays and the regional community gets nothing. We know what's happening in the Middle East. This was not something that a reasonable person could not have foreseen. But to have the government continually gaslight Australians and say there's no problem is bizarre. What sort of representatives of people are you if you're not hearing their desperation? We know that this government has added a brave new tax, the safeguard mechanism, to our Australian refiners. We know that this government has added additional costs to those people who generate energy and fuel in this country. And who is going to pay for it? Well, it is Australians—everyday mums and dads who want to get to work or have a small business and who want to know that they can rely on the basics to get around and to run their business. Instead the government's telling them there's not a problem. Well, wake up and smell the roses, because there is a huge problem right across Australia. Australians are screaming for help. They're calling for their representatives to get up and listen to them. The PRESIDENT: The question is that the urgency motion standing in the name of Senator McGrath, as moved by Senator Colbeck, be agreed to.