00:02Emerging from an emergency meeting of the National Cabinet.
00:06I want to assure Australians at this time that Australia is well prepared.
00:10The Prime Minister unveils the nation's new fuel supply coordinator,
00:14Anthea Harris, a former head of Australia's energy regulator,
00:18to work with the states to get petrol and diesel to where it's needed,
00:22as the Middle East conflict fuels prices and panic.
00:26Our nation's fuel supply remains strong and not in doubt.
00:30Demand is still the problem, but no appetite for rationing yet.
00:35My message to Australians is please do not take more fuel than you need.
00:41But signs are emerging of friction around the table.
00:44We want two things to flow, information and fuel.
00:47As leaders were meeting, the competition watchdog revealed
00:50it's investigating some of Australia's biggest fuel companies.
00:54Ampol, BP, Mobil and Viva probed for potential collusion.
00:59It's not our usual practice to publicly announce investigations,
01:03the ACCC chair said in a statement,
01:05but we recognise the widespread concerns about fuel pricing and supply.
01:10With the war battering Australia's economy,
01:13the Prime Minister's patience is clearly wearing out.
01:16Initially supportive of America's actions,
01:19he's now looking to how this conflict ends and hoping that comes quickly.
01:24We'll continue to argue for a de-escalation.
01:28The Treasurer of Australia.
01:30The Treasurer today laying bare the cost to the economy.
01:33Rising inflation, falling growth and productivity
01:36to remain sluggish for longer.
01:38But he's not resiling from plans for bigger tax reforms in the budget.
01:43All of this economic uncertainty and volatility
01:46is a reason for more reform, not less.
01:49As unemployment rose to 4.3% in February.
01:53An admission of complete and utter failure.
01:57Interest rates going up, inflation going up,
02:00people working harder for less.
02:01Businesses and households feeling the pain.
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