QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator AYRES (New South Wales—Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science) (15:04): What the government has done here is provide it on a weekly basis. The minimum stockholding legislation that is in place requires a quarterly update, but, because of the situation that we're in—a weekly update. The purpose of the weekly update is so that Australians understand what there is in terms of the minimum stockholding that is at hand.

The message that we are trying to send to the Australian people is not a complacency message— Senator Nampijinpa Price interjecting— Senator AYRES: I couldn't be more directly answering— The PRESIDENT: Senator Chandler? Senator Chandler: President, it was a very narrowly worded— The PRESIDENT: Why are you on your feet? Senator Chandler: Apologies, President.

The point of order is on relevance. It was a very narrowly worded supplementary question. I merely want to know why this information wasn't provided yesterday.

The PRESIDENT: I'm aware of the question, Senator Chandler. The minister's being relevant to the question. Senator AYRES: It's the message that we're sending, which Australians are listening to, about not purchasing more than is required.

The feedback that we're getting from petrol stations is that people are overwhelmingly following that advice, because there is confidence that, while this is not a straightforward proposition and requires effort— (Time expired)