One Nation Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson has criticised the Federal Government’s plan for a new oil refinery in Western Australia, warning it will not solve Australia’s fuel security problems if the refinery depends on imported oil.
Her comments follow Labor’s announcement of a $4 million feasibility study into the proposed refinery.
Senator Hanson said Australia currently has only around 42 days of petrol and 38 days of diesel reserves and remains heavily dependent on fragile overseas fuel supply chains.
She argued that Australia needs to increase domestic oil production, build more onshore fuel storage and reduce reliance on imports from the Middle East.
Senator Hanson also questioned the plan to involve a fertiliser company with no previous experience operating a liquid fuel refinery, and raised concerns over the refinery’s proposed location and type.
She said Australia has around 17 billion barrels of oil resources that could be developed, and called for any feasibility study to consider the strategic importance of reducing the nation’s dependence on imported fuel.
