Television Interview, Today Show

SUBJECTS: Middle East Conflict; Fuel Supply

KARL STEFANOVIC, HOST: Let's get straight into it with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles joining me live from Geelong. Thanks for joining us, Richard. So, farmers can't farm, fishermen can't fish, builders can't build. But hey, hard‑working Australians don't panic. Honestly, it's amateur hour.

RICHARD MARLES, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: Well, not really sure what to make of that question, Karl, but I mean we are dealing with this in a very serious and prudent way. I mean, there are obviously challenges that we are facing. One of the challenges here is we don't know how long this is going to go. So, we need, in a sense, to be taking it a day at a time. But we are obviously working through all the scenarios that the country may face based on how long this is going forward. There are challenges in terms of fuel going forward, but on this day we are getting the fuel supplies into Australia that we need. And so, you know, our message is to people to be prudent. We know there are challenges. We know people are doing it tough with fuel prices. Buy the fuel you need, but don't buy any more. We understand why people would have engaged in stockpiling and because of that we are seeing some, some shortages. And that's why we've released a significant component of the national stockpile, where we're getting it out to where people are needed. But we're also seeing challenges in other things like fertilisers, agricultural urea for example. And, you know, right now we've got the supplies for the immediate planting. If this goes on longer, that is going to be a challenge. And so we're working on looking at other forms of supply for agricultural urea, for example, in Southeast Asia. We are managing this, Karl. We will make the decisions that we need to make as we go forward. But it really does require us as a government to be prudent and calm, and obviously we're asking that of this of the Australian people as well.

STEFANOVIC: Here's the thing, look, Australians saw this coming. Maybe Chris Bowen should have pushed the button to get fuel out two weeks ago instead of arrogantly lecturing the Australian public. Maybe that would have been a better start for you guys?

MARLES: Well, I mean, we released a significant portion of the national stockpile very early on and we've been getting it to places –

STEFANOVIC: Yeah, but the independence ran dry weeks ago?

MARLES: Well, if you actually look at, I mean we are literally giving a daily running account of what service stations have shortages.

STEFANOVIC: They ran out two weeks ago, they ran out weeks ago – and it took two weeks to push this button. I mean, it's pretty clear.

MARLES: Well, I mean, Karl, if you let me finish–

STEFANOVIC: I don't know what you are saying–

MARLES: Ok – Actually, nine out of 10 fuel stations have fuel. I mean, I think the issue that everyone is experiencing is obviously increased prices and that's a function of what's happening in terms of the global oil price. But we are releasing stockpiles and getting fuel to where it's needed, and that's.

STEFANOVIC: So, the state premiers were looking for national guidance. Something we didn't see during COVID – at the moment though it seems to me, and for everyone else watching from the sidelines, including hard‑working Australians, it's the blind leading the blind.

MARLES: I mean, we are getting fuel to, to where it's needed and we are getting that out. We're not, we're not suggesting that there is not a challenge here, Karl. We do understand that, and it's why we are taking the decisions that we're taking and why we've taken the decision, for example, to loosen standards in relation to diesel to get it more into the system. We are doing this at a national level with national coordination.

STEFANOVIC: Ok –

MARLES: We've had meetings of the National Cabinet and we'll continue to do that. We've put in place a fuel supply task force, which is seeking to manage this at a national level. So, you won't, what we are going –

STEFANOVIC: So, you won’t ration stations, but service stations are doing anyway?

MARLES: Well, what we're going to do is deal with this in a calm and prudent manner and taking it a step at a time. We are absolutely working scenarios in a world where this continues further. But you don't know how long this is going to go for. I don't know how long this is going to go for. And right now the message is to take the fuel that you need but not to take any more. Because right now the fact of the matter – now, what if I can finish, Karl? The fact of the matter is that we are getting the fuel into the country that we need now. We get that fuel prices have gone up, the oil price has gone up, and people are experiencing that at the bowser. And we get that people are doing it tough. And we're also working in respect of a whole lot of measures around that as well. But on this day, we are getting the fuel into the country that we need. We have released more of the stockpile and we're getting that out to those areas that are needed. But we are going to take this a day at a time and we are going to remain calm.

STEFANOVIC: I'll tell you what, if a country's doing day‑to‑day during a crisis, you know you've got dramas. Look, Donald Trump has bagged you again overnight –

MARLES: Well, no, no, we're - 

STEFANOVIC: – well, okay –

MARLES: Well –

STEFANOVIC: No, just – I've got to move on. Donald Trump –

MARLES: Okay, no –

STEFANOVIC: – has bagged you again overnight, can we get to that, please? 

MARLES: It's fine for you to have the last say there, Karl. What we are doing is we are working through scenarios, we are working through scenarios, but 

[Excerpt] 

DONALD TRUMP: – Australia was not great. 

[End of excerpt] 

STEFANOVIC: I'll circle back and let you finish what you were going to say, but I think it was the same thing that you've been saying for two weeks. 

MARLES: Are you giving me an opportunity to say that now? 

STEFANOVIC: Well, that's what I just said, yeah. 

MARLES: We are looking at scenarios as this goes longer. We don't know how long this is going to go and you don't know that either. And so we are obviously working through those scenarios. At the same time, you know, we are making decisions on this day based on the circumstances that we have on this day. And it is important to do that in a calm and prudent way.

STEFANOVIC: Okay, Donald Trump – we were trying to play that grab over the top of you. Apologies for that. But he basically said, you know, he's bagging us again for not getting involved. Your response to Donald Trump overnight?

MARLES: Well, look, we have been providing an E‑7 for the defence of the Gulf States, that was at the request of the UAE. I mean, the one request we've had from the United States is to provide support for Gulf States, which is in fact what we are doing, and that's where we see our national interest. We do that because of the relationship we have with the Gulf States but also because in the UAE specifically it is home to one of the largest expat populations that Australia has, and so it's a really important contribution. We've signed up to the statement that has been led by the United Kingdom in respect the Straits of Hormuz, but we'll continue to make decisions based on our national interests. We will look at the requests that are being made of us by countries around the world, including the United States. We don't have a request from the United States in respect of the Straits of Hormuz right now.

STEFANOVIC: Right. Good on you, Richard. Appreciate your time.