QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Mr KATTER (Kennedy) (14:39): Treasurer, 30 per cent of Australia's fuel can be supplied from existing indigenous reserves, even without tapping oil shales. Why does government refuse to ban exports, which earn a measly $8 thousand million, whilst importing fuel, costing us $62 thousand million? Australia is one of the big four in grain and sugar production.

Both are feedstock of ethanol. Why no action? Ethanol can, right now, supply three per cent of Australia's demand.

Additionally, four of the recently closed refineries can easily be recommissioned. Why, on these three obvious initiatives, has the government done nothing?