Press conference, Sydney CPO, New South Wales

MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY, CHRIS BOWEN: Thanks for coming. Australia currently has 41 days worth of petrol on hand, which is three days less than my report last week. 38 days worth of diesel, which is one day more than my report last week. 34 days worth of jet fuel, which is five days more than my report last week. We currently have 6.2 billion litres of fuel in Australia in total across fuel types.

That’s more than the 5.3 billion litres we had on the day that Iran was first bombed. We have 49 ships on the water to Australia as we speak with fuel on them, that's up one on my report last week. And 3.6 billion litres of fuel contracted to be delivered over the next four weeks, which is steady with last week's report.

So again, Australians can take confidence while the instability and uncertainty continues internationally, what also continues is Australia's fuel security, Australia’s fuel security in the face of this very big international challenge. It's been Government and business working together so closely while business working together so closely while others called for rationing or said rationing was inevitable.

The Government had the view that a calm approach would see Australia through, and that calm approach will continue. I also just want to touch on the release of the June figures for EV sales. Australians are taking up EVs of course in record numbers.

A total of 36 per cent of purchases in June were either fully electric or plug-in hybrid. 24 per cent fully electric vehicles, 12 per cent plug-in hybrid, a total of 36 per cent, which compares to just under 2 per cent when we came to office. When we came to office in 2022, an Australian bought an EV once every 50 minutes. In June, an Australian bought an EV once every 17 seconds*.

Now, this is Australians making their choices to protect themselves against rising international uncertainty when it comes to petrol and fuel. But Australians know that what's good for the planet is also good for their pocket. It's also Australians taking up a massive increase in choices for EVs and plug-in hybrid brought about by our new vehicle efficiency standards, which were introduced against the face of fierce opposition from the Liberals and the Nationals and One Nation.

But we had the view that Australians deserve better choices, and Australians are taking up those choices now in huge numbers. So, very good to see Australians maximising their choices, their freedom of choice to buy an EV or a plug-in hybrid vehicle with those increases in models that are available now, as a result of the Albanese Government's policy. So, pleased to provide this weekly update on fuel and also to comment on the EV sales.

Over to questions, and I think we have perhaps one on the phone. JOURNALIST: Thanks, Minister. It's [Indistinct] here from SBS in Melbourne.

Sorry, I am just hoping to ask a question about PIF, if that's okay? JOURNALIST: So I've just spoken with Palau's Environment Minister, he says his country was on the front line of climate change 20 years ago. Now his people are living in the thick of it.

He says his government's ability to adapt to climate change is not matched with what the country contributes in carbon emissions. And he says Australia has a responsibility to do more compared to other Pacific island states. So Minister, what guarantee can you make to Palau and other low-lying Pacific island states that Australia will contribute more in climate finance for at-risk communities?

Was that Minister Victor? JOURNALIST: It was, yes. Yep.

Well, Minister Victor's right. Palau has been at the front line of action on climate change and the impacts of climate change, absolutely, as have other Pacific ministers and countries. I work closely with Minister Victor.

I'll be working closely with him at the PIF, I'll be working closely with him at the pre-COP in Fiji in October. We also- last year, I visited Palau and announced Australia's commitment to support the upgrade of their renewable energy system with a large battery to support their solar. One of the features of our chairmanship of the negotiations of the COP31 this year is a real effort to lift the focus of the international process on the Pacific.

That's why we insisted on a pre-COP in the Pacific. We'll be talking about the Pacific Resilience Fund, we'll be talking about the need for countries like Palau to have more access to climate finance, whether it be through the Green Climate Fund, or the GEF, or the World Bank. That is a key focus of our efforts this year as President of the Negotiations.

Australia's pleased to play that role. It's a role that the opposition unfortunately does not support. The opposition pays lip service to the Pacific.

If they cared about the Pacific, they'd care about climate, and they’d be supporting Australia’s role to lift the Pacific issues at COP31. JOURNALIST: Okay, and just on Palau still, it's one of just three Pacific states which recognises Taiwanese sovereignty. Are you concerned about the repeat of last year where you saw this geopolitical issue arise at PIF where China may pressure other PIF member states to boycott the meeting this year?

Oh look, we'll just continue to work closely with Palau around the PIF, with Fiji around the pre-COP, to ensure all the normal diplomatic arrangements are put in place. JOURNALIST: Okay Minister, thanks very much. Okay, I think that's a wrap.

Thanks, guys. *Correction - 1 minute and 17 seconds We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.