Barnaby Joyce Demands Scrapping of Climate Department Over Fuel Security Failures
One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has launched a blistering critique of Australia's Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, holding it directly responsible for the nation's precarious fuel security situation. Joyce has demanded the immediate abolition of the department, arguing that years of climate-focused energy policies have dangerously undermined domestic fuel resilience.
"Political Theatre" Over Diesel Announcement
Speaking forcefully on Sky News, Joyce tore into Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's recent announcement that Australia had secured an additional 100 million litres of diesel through two overseas shipments, including one from Brunei. Joyce dismissed the announcement as mere political theatre, pointing out that Australia consumes approximately that amount of diesel in a single day.
"That's about what we use [in a day]," Joyce stated emphatically. He argued the government was boasting about securing a paltry amount after significant international travel and diplomatic effort. "He flew over there, did all this stuff, for just over a day's worth of diesel supply. This is a joke," Joyce declared.
The deal even drew international ridicule, with Russia's state-backed broadcaster RT mocking Albanese for saving Australia "one day at a time." Joyce asserted that Australia's current vulnerability is entirely self-inflicted, a direct consequence of misguided climate policies that have precipitated a collapse in domestic fuel security.
Call to Axe Climate Department and Legislation
Barnaby Joyce called unequivocally for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to be scrapped and for climate legislation that restricts oil and gas development to be repealed. "The climate change department has got to go. Gone. Finished," he insisted.
He specifically targeted restrictions on resource extraction, stating, "Restrictions on us getting oil out of the Great Australian Bight and other areas has got to go." Joyce warned that without such drastic changes, Australians would not alter the weather but would instead see their standard of living plummet. "Otherwise, you're not going to change the weather. You're just going to change your standard of living. You are going to become poorer," he cautioned.
Joyce said Australians are now living with the consequences of what he described as "insanity," warning that living standards would continue to decline unless energy and fuel policy was urgently and comprehensively overhauled. "We've got to try and manage this with the crazy cards we've been dealt," he said. "But make no mistake – we are in strife."
Refinery Fire Highlights Systemic Vulnerabilities
Joyce also referenced the recent fire at the Viva Energy refinery in Geelong, which broke out on Wednesday night. An investigation is ongoing into the blaze at the Corio facility, attributed to a gas leak caused by faulty equipment in an alkylation unit. The fire burned for 13 hours before being extinguished, with the refinery now operating at about 80 percent capacity as safety checks continue.
This incident, Joyce argued, underscores the fragility of Australia's remaining fuel infrastructure. "We've blown up our electricity grid, we've shut down our fuel refining," he lamented. "We're down to one fuel refiner. Well done. Congratulations. Genius."
He contended that Australia has foolishly placed itself at the mercy of overseas fuel suppliers and issued a stark warning that exporting nations would inevitably prioritise their own needs if global conditions deteriorated. "Sooner or later, they're going to start keeping this fuel at home. I can assure you of that," Joyce predicted. "The slower we are, the harder it's going to get."
Joyce's comments represent a significant political escalation in the debate over Australia's energy sovereignty, framing climate policy not just as an environmental issue but as a direct threat to national economic security and resilience.
