Press conference, Fairfield West, NSW

MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY, CHRIS BOWEN: Okay, thanks for coming everyone. The Iran war is now six months old. When the Iran war started, Australians were understandably concerned about fuel security, and that was in no way helped by the scare campaigns run by the Liberal Party, the National Party, and One Nation.

The government had the view that a calm and steady approach would see Australia's fuel security strong and solid during this international challenge, of the worst energy crisis we’ve ever seen. And, six months on, I can report that remains the case. Australia has 41 days worth of petrol, which is five days more than when the Iran crisis began. 36 days worth of diesel, which is four days more than when the Iran crisis began, and 31 days worth of jet fuel, which is two days more than when the crisis began.

We have 47 ships on the way to Australia, which is standard and in keeping with the flow that we've seen since the Iran war began. And we have 3.2 billion litres of fuel locked in to be delivered over the next four weeks. So, again, I've been holding these Saturday press conferences for the best part of six months and been providing these updates every week, to provide Australians with the security and the certainty that they need to make the decisions that they want to make.

And we continue with the advice to Australians that our fuel security is solid and strong, buy as much fuel as you need, no more and no less. And we’ll continue to provide these updates to the Australian people for as long as this international crisis and war in Iran continues. Happy to take questions.

We’ve got journalists on the phone, we’ve got two phones with journalists on, so maybe Channel Ten first and then I’ll come to the other phones. JOURNALIST: Hi Minister, thanks for your time. Just on [Indistinct], the Prime Minister’s flagged that [Indistinct]… duty of care [Indistinct] crack down on social media.

Where are we [Indistinct]…? MINISTER BOWEN: So, obviously Australia’s social media reforms have been world leading. The ban on social media for under-16s was controversial, but has now been implemented by countries around the world.

Almost every day, you have another country announcing that they’re going to copy the Albanese Government’s policy. Which is, I think, pleasing that we’ve been able to really lead the world discussion on this. And obviously, we’ve got more to do, and the Prime Minister has indicated that the reform program, the [Indistinct] program continues, because things need to continue to improve.

Now, I will have more to say and more detail about that in the coming period, but what the Prime Minister’s doing is outlining that, while we have been able to implement a world leading reform, we don’t think the task is over, and there’s more to do. I’ll leave the further details to Anika Wells and the Prime Minister to provide in due course. Other journalists?

JOURNALIST: Minister, Tim Lester from Seven News, thank you for speaking with us. You said last week that Queensland and the Northern Territory would not be allowed to dictate federal policy with regard to data centres and energy. Isn’t at least part of the outcome from the decision to allow them to go their own way with energy allowing them to dictate national policy?

MINISTER BOWEN : Thanks Tim, for the question. But no, and I don’t – with respect – agree with your characterisation. Because as we’ve made clear, there will be nationally consistent standards, which apply to Queensland and the Northern Territory no more and no less to anyone else.

And now I know there’s been some spin out there from Queensland in particular, but what we’ve done is implement exactly what we said we would do. Going into the National Cabinet, coming out of the National Cabinet. There is no carve out for Queensland or the Northern Territory.

There is no card that they can play to say we don’t have to comply with these rules. That is simply not the case. We are implementing nationally consistent rules in federal legislation, which we will take through the Federal Parliament.

The only change was, the Prime Minister said, that if Queensland really thinks that they can provide data centre energy cheaper than renewables, they can put a case together, and if it genuinely turns out to be cheaper than renewables, they can apply for an exemption. The Commonwealth will decide that – not Queensland. So, the Commonwealth will decide that, and we know that renewables are the cheapest form of energy, that’s why we’re requiring data centres to use renewable energy, because otherwise you’d see everyone’s bills go up to pay for the increased energy use.

Our modelling is very clear on that, that if you had an open slather, let her rip approach where data centres could do whatever they want in Queensland, wholesale prices would go up 13 per cent. So I said before, we’re not going to let Queensland lead a race to the bottom, that remains the case. You’ll see when we release the draft legislation, it’s very clear that there’s national rules that apply in Queensland and the Northern Territory, no more or no less than anywhere else.

JOURNALIST: So Minister, if I could just follow up there, what impact would data centres have on the power prices that Australians pay? MINISTER BOWEN: If our policy is implemented, none. Because that will ensure that, actually, the data centre development brings new energy with it.

Brings new, renewable energy with it, the cheapest form of energy. If we didn’t do that, then the impact would be very big. If we just let data centres do whatever they want, and we adopted a Queensland-style approach, or the approach that Dan Tehan and the federal opposition want to approach, then yes, there would be an impact on energy use.

Because these things are whales when it comes to energy use – data centres in the United States use as much electricity as all of Sweden. This data centre proposal, just down the road from me here in my electorate, which would have energy use more than the Tomago aluminium smelter. One data centre.

So if we don’t get this right, yes, there will be an impact on energy bills for all Australians. That’s why the Albanese Government is not going to let states and territories just do whatever they want. We are going to have nationally consistent rules, that will apply in federal legislation.

So if a data centre wants to open in Australia, they must show they’re bringing their own, new, additional renewable energy. That will see and ensure no impact on energy bills. We welcome data centre investment, but not at any cost.

And it’s got to be in the best interest of Australians. And energy is one part of it, it’s the part I’m responsible for, Murray Watt’s doing great work with water. Tim Ayres and Andrew Charlton are doing great work with coordinating across the board.

But on energy, our policy is crystal clear. JOURNALIST: [Talks over] [Indistinct]… JOURNALIST: [Talks over] [Indistinct]… Sorry, say again? MINISTER BOWEN: No, no, I think we’ve got another journalist trying to ask some questions here, so I might come back to you in a minute, to be fair, if that’s okay.

JOURNALIST: No problem. JOURNALIST: Thanks Minister. On One Nation, the state by-election [Indistinct]… how concerned is Labor that One Nation could win this?

MINISTER BOWEN: This is a state by-election, of state issues. Obviously, we take nothing for granted. Obviously we support the Labor candidate Georgia Tree, but it will be tough.

The Premier of Western Australia has made that very clear in regards. This is an underdog arrangement for the Western Australian Government, they’ve got a big majority, and by-elections are often the case that people take the opportunity to vote for a different party. But obviously, it will be a tough by-election for Labor, for the Cook Government.

We wish them all the best, but this is a state by-election, and obviously we’re continuing to focus on our plans to build up a real change for Australians, real reforms which improve Australians’ quality of life, and deal with cost of living, while One Nation focuses on their own issues. JOURNALIST: Just one last question for me, on One Nation, which is [Indistinct]… apparently David Farley is considering leaving One Nation and going to the crossbench.

Are you surprised by this revelation? MINISTER BOWEN: Well, we’ve seen this movie before, haven’t we? I mean, a very high proportion of people who are elected as One Nation MPs leave because they find Pauline Hanson impossible to work with.

We saw that with Mark Latham, we’ve seen almost- basically everyone who was elected in the Queensland Parliament at one stage leave within 12 months. So if you vote for One Nation, you get a lot uncertainty, you get a lot of instability. We’ll see what David Farley does.

Again, we’re focused on real reform, real changes. One Nation can focus on themselves. ABC got any questions, before I go back to Tim Lester?

JOURNALIST: Hi Minister, yes, I’m sitting with Tim. MINISTER BOWEN: Oh, there you go. Okay.

You’re coordinating. Of course. JOURNALIST: [Talks over] [Indistinct] Isabella Tolhurst with the ABC.

Just back on data centres, I was wondering if- whether you’ve heard much feedback from the data centre industry about these requirements around renewables? [Indistinct] how confident you are that it won’t harm investment in the sector? MINISTER BOWEN: Data centres get it. Data centre proponents get it.

They know that renewable energy is the cheapest form of the energy, they want to work with the Government. So, these rules are to ensure that, basically, there’s no possible leakage, and that there isn’t a race to bottom. But the vast majority of data centres say this is what they want to do.

They want to work with the government. And that this is a set of rules which they find constructive, and able to work within. JOURNALIST: I’m all good too Minister, thank you for your time.

MINISTER BOWEN: Okay. Is that a wrap from everyone? Everyone’s all good?

JOURNALIST: Thank you Minister. MINISTER BOWEN: Okay. That’s a wrap.

Thanks all. 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.