former spy chief quits antisemitism royal commission; government battles fuel supply questions amid panic buying

It does not take an experienced political analyst to grasp the tactics the opposition is using to attack the government today. The coalition is trying to force the government to accept that there is a crisis in fuel supplies and that it is Labour’s fault.

Workers’ reaction has not changed much: There is no supply crisis, but the Coalition is making the situation worse by scaring people into panic buying fuel.

This is the back and forth we have seen all week, but today the mood in the House is becoming increasingly harsh.

In the government’s latest response, Resources Minister Madeleine King said Australians were better off under government rule during the Middle East war and this would create bigger shocks to the fuel market than they would have experienced under the Coalition.

“The Australian people will be much better placed to weather the international shocks caused by the conflict in the Middle East, this government will look out for their interests and will always act in the national interest,” he said.

“These Labor MPs… will always fight in the national interest and I guarantee you they will work to ensure the Australian people are well fueled.”