- Cook
Government to compel fuel industry to provide full visibility of fuel chain
supply
- Follows
letter sent by Premier last week demanding information from industry
- Targeted
measure to help State Government ensure fuel is sent where it is needed most
- Consistent
with National Fuel Security Plan to 'use legislative provisions' to access
data
The Cook Labor Government will take immediate measures to activate
emergency powers to compel industry to provide information on their fuel supply
chains.
Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson will seek an
order from the Governor this afternoon to utilise emergency powers under of the
Fuel, Energy and Power Resources Act.
Once made, this declaration will allow regulations to come into effect
from tomorrow, giving the Minister powers to compel suppliers to
provide the data and information needed to ensure fuel is sent where it is
needed most.
Parliament will be
required to be recalled on 14 April to allow the orders to be tabled.
Premier Roger Cook
last week wrote to the major fuel suppliers and demanded they provide specific
data and information to the Western Australian Government.
While some companies
have provided this information, others have failed to do so.
Despite assurances
from major suppliers that fuel shipments are expected to continue to arrive in
April at normal levels, the ongoing conflict, the closure of the Strait of
Hormuz and other circumstances in the Gulf region have impacted on the
distribution of fuel in key regional areas and resulted in some mining and
agricultural businesses experiencing shortages. If these circumstances
continue, the distribution of fuel could be further affected.
The Cook Government
was the first government in Australia to act to address the fuel shock caused
by the war in the Middle East. This has included:
- delivering
on a seven-point plan agreed with industry on 11 March at the Premier's fuel
security roundtable;
- prioritising
the delivery of additional fuel supplies into key regional areas through the
Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation's Fuel Industry Operations Group;
- appointing
a State Controller to address acute challenges across the fuel supply chain,
with millions of litres in extra fuel sourced through alternative distribution
pathways;
- standing
up the Industry Support Working Group, chaired by Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti,
to keep WA's economy strong;
- leading
the development of the National Fuel Security Plan with the Commonwealth
Government, on behalf of other States and Territories, which was adopted this
week by National Cabinet.
Using legislative
provisions to ensure timely data and information from industry is a key action
for State and Territory Governments under Level 2 of the National Fuel Security
Plan. These emergency powers will also enable the WA Government to implement
actions at higher levels of the national plan if required.
Utilising powers
under the Fuel, Energy and Power Resources Act is not the same as activating
a State of Emergency under the Emergency Management Act, which was done
during the COVID period.
The Fuel, Energy
and Power Resources Act gives the State Government access to powers
targeted specifically at Western Australia's fuel supply chain, allowing
government to get better information and respond appropriately. The Emergency
Management Act has broader powers to direct individual behavior.
Comments attributed
to Premier Roger Cook:
"I have been clear
that I will put Western Australians' interests first to make sure fuel is
flowing where it is needed most.
"We have had success
in ensuring fuel is reaching our regions, but our efforts are being hampered by
not having full visibility of the fuel supply chain.
"That's why today we
will seek orders from the Governor to utilise emergency powers under the Fuel,
Energy and Power Resources Act and make regulations to compel information
from fuel suppliers and distributors.
"Today's actions
will enable us to see exactly where fuel is going, and make sure it is getting
where it is needed most.
"I will always do
the right thing for WA and make the decisions I need to make to keep WA
strong."
Comments attributed
to Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber Jade Sanderson:
"By activating powers available to me under the Fuel,
Energy and Power Resources Act, Iwill be able to make
orders compelling suppliers and distributors to provide critical information
about fuel chain supplies across our State.
"I thank the suppliers and distributors who have already given us this
information, but we need to understand the full supply chain to ensure we can
meet the needs of key economic sectors like agriculture and mining.
"While this seems like a big step, it is a targeted sensible measure
that will ensure we can direct fuel where it is needed most, particularly to
our regional communities."
