QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator McKENZIE (Victoria—Leader of the Nationals in the Senate) (14:13): My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Senator Ayres. Despite weeks of fuel shortages impacting truckies, farmers, fishers and miners, as well as petrol stations in our regions and city suburbs going dry— Senator Shoebridge: How's your war going?

The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Shoebridge: How's your war going? The PRESIDENT: Order!

Senator McKENZIE: the Minister for Climate Change and Energy continues to deny there is a problem. The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator McKenzie, I'm very sorry.

Senator Shoebridge! I've called order twice and you've ignored me. Come to order!

Senator McKenzie, please continue. Senator Shoebridge interjecting— Senator Wong interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order across the chamber! Order!

This is question time, Senator Shoebridge and Senator Wong! Order. Order.

Senators asking questions and ministers— Senator Shoebridge interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Shoebridge! Senator Shoebridge, I will name you. You are being incredibly disrespectful to me.

I'll remind the Senate once again that senators asking questions have the right to be heard in silence. Equally, when ministers stand up, that silence continues. I'm very sorry, Senator McKenzie.

Please continue. Senator McKENZIE: Thank you for your protection, Madam President. Just yesterday, on ABC's Insiders, the minister said: … we've got our refineries working full pelt and not exporting any diesel or petrol … we are continuing to see our fuel supply being strong.

If Australia's fuel supplies are so strong, why over the weekend were 107 petrol stations in New South Wales without diesel, impacting farmers in Farrer and beyond, and 42 stations were without a single drop of fuel?