Nationalism in a ‘remade’ world: Labor’s rallying cry as fuel crisis worsens

Industry Minister Tim Ayres warned the world was “reshaping around us” as the Albanian government grappled with the Iranian fuel crisis and called on Australians to embrace “constructive nationalism”.

The NSW Senator is expected to strike a defiant tone outside the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, more than three weeks before the Iran war.

“The world around us is being reshaped. Rules and norms are changing,” Senator Ayres will say, according to published excerpts from his speech.

“We don’t have time to marvel at the problems. We must make Australia stronger, smarter, safer and more resilient to the shocks that keep coming.”

Senators Ayres will urge Australians to “line up” behind the best and brightest and rebuild industrial and research capacity.

“There is no time for silos,” he is expected to say.

“This is a time for public service and intentional, constructive Australian nationalism.”

On Monday, Senator Ayres revealed eight per cent of service stations in Australia, mostly in NSW and Victoria, were lacking at least one form of fuel.

While the Albanian government has so far avoided calls for fuel rationing, it has also released some emergency supplies and lowered sulfur and diesel standards.

However, the government has toughened its messaging in recent days; Anthony Albanese called for “progressive patriotism” on Monday night.

Senator Ayres is expected to tell the National Press Club that these times “require deep thinking, heavy lifting and coordinated effort.”

“These are difficult times and budget processes are difficult. But this is the mission of the Government of Albania,” he will say.

“Halting progress at a critical juncture in Australia’s history and replacing it with discipline and determination.

Lauded as the “greatest pro-manufacturing industrial policy in Australian history”, Mr Ayres said it would be a “purely hands-on rollout”.

“Government – ​​state, states and territories. Private sector. Workers. Managers and business owners. Scientists. Researchers. Investors,” he will say.

“My job is to put this effort together, get every ounce of it out of the system, and deliver it effectively.

“This is a mission with huge implications for Australia’s strategic capacity, economic resilience and national security.

“Economic security is national security, and research and development is at the heart of serving the country we love and the working people who are lucky enough to call Australia home.”

The Albanian government celebrated the signing of the long-awaited trade agreement with the European Union on Tuesday.

This follows renewed threats of trade tariffs from both the US and China.

Earlier this week, International Energy Agency Executive Director İnanç Birol appeared before the National Press Club.