Opposition leader Angus Taylor has called on the Australian government to fast-track mining exploration and coal and gas project construction to shore up fuel supply during the global energy shock. In a televised address on Thursday night, Taylor accused Labor of mishandling disruptions caused by the war in Iran and challenged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to explain plans for emergency petrol and diesel supplies.
“We must dig, and we must drill,” Taylor said, echoing pro-fossil fuel rhetoric. He criticised Albanese’s Wednesday night address to the nation, suggesting it “could have been a social media post” for its lack of detail. Taylor urged the government to clarify fuel supply levels, identify shortages, and detail oil shipments entering the country.
Taylor warned against “heavy-handed mandates that restrict people’s freedoms” and called for honesty from the government. He argued that Australia should unlock its natural resources to secure its future, stating, “We have the resources beneath our feet to secure our future.”
Albanese defended his address at the National Press Club in Canberra, saying Australians needed reassurance and warning of misinformation about fuel rationing and a return to Covid-19 measures. He acknowledged significant challenges ahead but stressed, “This will not be like Covid.”
