Danica De Giorgio:
Well, Energy Minister Chris Bowen has assured us that we’ve got enough fuel and diesel supply. Good. Yeah, I’m sure we can all sleep better knowing that that’s come from Bowen. Despite the fact the International Energy Agency has agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil from its 32 member countries, the largest release in its history to stall price hikes. Daniel Wild from the Institute of Public Affairs exposes Labor’s lack of action.
Daniel Wild:
Well, back in 2020, before he was Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese said Australia is an island nation and fuel security should be our top priority. We agree, Prime Minister. But what is it that you have done since becoming Prime Minister? Well, since the election in May 2022, Australia’s total refinery input has fallen by 10%, and that’s starting from an historically low base. And now we only have two. Yes, two oil refineries across our entire nation. We now import 80% of our liquid fuels despite the fact that we have vast reserves.
But Labour says if you’re concerned about fuel, well, that’s just a right wing conspiracy. In fact, Tim Ayers, who’s the minister for industry and innovation, reckons the solution is to drive an EV. Seriously, that’s fine for the 2% of Australians who actually drive an EV, but what about the 98% of normal Australians who drive a vehicle with a good old internal combustion engine? Apparently, this government just doesn’t care about you.
But think about this. Back in 1984, when we had real leaders, when parliament was debating the Liquid Fuel Emergency Act, the leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister Doug Anthony said, “We cannot stop an outbreak of war in the Middle East that would halt or severely restrict our imports of oil. But we can have policies which ensure the maximum possible level of oil exploration in Australia and the maximum development of existing oil fields. How right he was.
But shortsightedness is now a pattern of repeated behaviour by Australia’s failed political establishment. Australia is a nation that has ridden on a sheep’s back. Our natural resources have underpinned not just our economy, but have defined our way of life for generations. Fuel is quite literally the engine room of our economy, and Australia is a diesel economy.
Without diesel, the transport sector shuts down. It’s a cliche, but without trucks, Australia stops. And we need change. Big change. No more tinkering around the edges. No more small talk about changes to effective marginal tax rates. No more pulling our punches for fear of causing offence to some minority group, but political standard bearers who understand that nothing about our great national success story is assured other than defeat in the absence of action.
Danica De Giorgio:
Spot on. And Labour has got its head buried in the sand on this issue.
This transcript of Daniel Wild on Opinionated Sky News Australia from 13 March 2026 has been edited for clarity.
