LIQUID FUEL SHORTAGE —
STATE HAZARD PLAN
1305. Hon MARTIN ALDRIDGE to the minister representing the
Minister for Energy:
I refer to state government plans
to respond to a liquid fuel shortage.
(1) Which agency is designated as
the hazard management agency for such an event?
(2) Will the minister please table
the appropriate state hazard plan for such an event?
(3) Given that
liquefied petroleum gas is relied upon more heavily in regional Western Australia
for heating and cooking, why has this fuel been ''assessed as not
specifically required for the effective function of society'' in the
relevant state hazard plan?
(4) With respect
to unleaded petrol and diesel, how long could stores of these fuels continue to
be supplied in the event that local production and importation ceases?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
the question. The following information has been provided to me by the Minister
for Energy.
(1) The Coordinator of Energy is the prescribed hazard
management agency for liquid fuel supply disruptions, as per regulation
23B of the Emergency Management Regulations 2006. Energy Policy WA supports the
Coordinator of Energy in the discharge of that responsibility.
(2) I table the ''State Hazard Plan—Energy
Supply Disruption''.
[See paper 3359.]
(3) For the
purposes of the ''State Hazard Plan—Energy Supply Disruption'',
liquefied petroleum gas is mentioned in the context of its role as a secondary
fuel type for road transport LPG, which comprises approximately two per cent of
the passenger and automotive fleet in Australia.
(4) This would
depend on a number of factors, including stock on hand in terminals across the
local market at the time; consumption rates; the nature, type and duration of
the causal incident; and the effect of reducing bulk allocations and any retail
rationing effects.