AdBlue shortage exposes Australia’s fuel security failure
KAP Kennedy MP, Bob Katter, and Federal Candidate for Herbert and transport operator, Clynton Hawks, have slammed the Federal Government’s inadequate response to the dire AdBlue fuel shortage issue saying that by February, the only road that Aussie trucks will be on, is a catastrophic one.
Mr Katter said that AdBlue, a diesel engine additive used for trucks, some agriculture equipment and family vehicles, had been placed into jeopardy due to China cutting Australia off from importing Urea – the key ingredient.
He said that this is a situation of the Government’s own creation.
“AdBlue has only been made essential by the Government to meet environmental requirements. I am informed that the entire trucking fleet could operate without any AdBlue if the Government were to simply suspend their requirements for its use.”
Mr Hawks said the trucking industry is on the road to catastrophe and that the sector is appalled at the Government’s slow response to the crisis having, “sat on the issue” for nearly five months.
“I am deeply disgusted that the Federal Government has failed to provide the transport industry with a solution,” he said.
“There have been many roundtables, and meetings, and yet, they still can’t tell us what our AdBlue stock levels were, or what their plan was.
“The Assistant Minister for Freight Transport has sat on this for a couple of months now and all they have done is monitor the situation.
“Actions speak louder than words. It’s time for the talking to stop. The transport industry deserves to know what is going on,” he said.
Mr Katter said that the Government’s current solution ‘forming a taskforce’ is not good enough.
Both Mr Katter and Mr Hawkes are calling on the Prime Minister’s office to urgently intervene and suspend the requirement for the trucking industry to use AdBlue for at least 12 months.
The extraordinary irresponsibility of the Government just beggar’s belief. All semi-trailers will go off the road in February and we are being told that they have appointed a “taskforce” to investigate, yet all we have are inquiries… Hells Gates, the Hughenden dam scheme, fuel security, the Darwin port, inquiries going on every bloody street corner, but when it comes to action, nil.
“This is very serious. The only Australian supplier of AdBlue, Incitec Pivot, can only supply 10 percent and they intend to close down the plant completely.”
Mr Katter said the price of AdBlue had exploded since the announcement was made, from around 60c to $2.20 with everyone trying desperately to buy up stock.
“I have confirmed with both the national and Queensland transport body that the situation is absolutely desperate and all they got off the Government is the same as I got off them – they are setting up a taskforce.
“It’s quite simple what needs to be done. I’ve had discussions with the Prime Minister, so today I am calling it bluntly – suspend the AdBlue regulations for at least 12 months.”
This, however, goes to a far more fundamental issue.
‘It’s a ‘brutal cannonball shot’ over Australia’s bow, demonstrating how serious Australia’s reliance on foreigners for fuel supply has become.
“I asked the question to the Prime Minister in May this year, ‘what would happen if China embargoed our petrol and diesel in which almost all of it comes in from Singapore and South Korea?’
“Now if there is any doubt about where China is going to go from here, this is just a warmup, this is the warning, this is the flashing amber light which they have given us, warning us to behave ourselves – or else.
“Only two weeks ago, in the last Parliament Sitting of 2021, we continually raised fuel sovereignty and security as a key issue. It was brought to the House as a Matter of Public Importance, asked as a Question to the Prime Minister in Question Time and raised again in a 90 Second Statement. Draft legislation, our Australian Fuel Security and Sovereignty Bill, was circulated throughout the House in key discussions with the Government, Opposition and Crossbenchers.
“It is imperative now that our Sovereign Fuel Security Bill goes through in the first week of Parliament. It would appear to me all the crossbenchers will carry the bill and the ALP have initiated discussions with us on this as well.
“My message to the Government is clear – if you can’t see the bullet coming, for Heaven’s sake, resign as the Government.
“Clynton is dead right. Actions speak louder than words and it’s time for the talking to stop. The freight industry, transport industry and, quite literally, the whole of Australia, deserves, and should demand, immediate action,” he said.
ENDS
