QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:38): I, again, indicate to you that we are working to secure supply in global markets and through our engagement with partners. You have seen that occur over these last weeks, with both myself and the Prime Minister, with international partners who are our major suppliers of a range of liquid fuels.

Senator McKenzie: A point of order on direct relevance. In the previous answer I allowed the minister a lot of leeway. The PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, we've moved on.

Senator McKenzie: They either have the supply onshore, and know where it is, or they don't. The PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, resume your seat. It's not a time for a very long point of order.

Senator McKenzie interjecting— The PRESIDENT: You're not in a debate with me. You've asked about a point of order. The minister is being relevant.

I will continue to listen carefully. Minister Wong. Senator WONG: The senator would be aware, I would hope, that jet fuel is one of the liquid fuels subject to the minimum stockholding obligation and that, at the moment, as I understand it— Honourable senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order!

The question has been asked. I am listening carefully to the answer. Minister Wong, do you wish to continue?

Senator WONG: As I was trying to explain—and I think you were part of a government that said it was moving to the MSO—the minimum stockholding obligation is the mechanism by which we ensure fuel is held, to deal with the supply constraint concerns that you are raising. The advice I have, and I'll come back and add further information if I'm wrong, is that we have in excess— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, second supplementary?