Extension of fuel emergency order an obvious necessity

The Shadow Minister for Energy Dr Steve Thomas says that the ongoing disruptions to crude oil supplies from the Middle East make extending the Western Australian declaration of a state of emergency in relation to fuel supply a no brainer.

“If the Government had not instigated a new declaration of State of Emergency, I would have been calling for one” Dr Thomas said.

“Given the uncertainty in the Middle East, especially with a new front in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and pipeline issues in Saudi Arabia, there is no certainty of oil supply to the refineries of Asia, and therefore no certainty of fuel reaching Australia.

“It would therefore be foolish to allow the order to lapse at this point and conceivably have to put it back in place later.

“This declaration, and the regulations it underpins, is essential for monitoring our fuel reserves to make sure it they get to where they are needed most.

“The initial declaration back on April 1st required the Governor to be satisfied that by reason of armed conflict and other events and circumstances in Iran, the Persian Gulf and other places in and near the Middle East, and the resultant disruption of shipping services in the region, the provision of fuel to WA might be under threat.

“I do not believe that those circumstances have changed” Dr Thomas said.

“Obviously the best outcome is a resumption of fuel flow following an outbreak of peace in the Middel East, but I’m not holding my breath.”