STEPHANIE BORYS, HOST: To speak more about Australia's response to the fuel crisis, Industry and Science Minister Tim Ayres joins me now. Thank you, Minister, for coming in.

SENATOR TIM AYRES, MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY AND INNOVATION AND MINISTER FOR SCIENCE: G', day, Stephanie. Good to be on the show.

HOST: Thank you. Now, the Government says there is enough supply, but some people are finding it hard to get diesel. So, what's the problem there? Why is there apparently enough supply, but some people are finding it hard?

AYRES: Well, I think what you've seen is, since the war began, the figures immediately before Easter and the figures that Minister Bowen released today, do demonstrate that the amount of fuel in the economy has remained roughly consistent over that time. And there's been some gradual improvements. There has been some dislocation in the fuel supply chain within Australia, and as Chris Bowen pointed out today – I don't have the figures in front of me – some small improvements over the course of the weekend in the number of fuel petrol stations that are without either diesel or without unleaded. 

What we've also seen over the course of the weekend is a very quick flow-through of the Government's measures on excise. So, that has passed on real relief for business. And of course, diesel is absolutely fundamental for the Australian economy, but also, I think, for households, many of whom would have been going on Easter breaks or spending Easter with family. It's very good to see that relief flow through to the petrol pumps so quickly. And really, that's a vote of confidence, I think, in the Government's approach on these questions last week.

HOST: So, as you've mentioned, we have seen slight improvements in terms of a reduction of petrol stations without fuel. But in the end, this isn't going to end until the conflict ends, right?

AYRES: Yeah, that's right. The longer the conflict goes on, the tougher this will be for Australia. There's no getting around that. The Albanese Government is doing everything that we can both internationally to secure additional shiploads of fuel –

HOST: How hard is that? To get additional shiploads?

AYRES: The decision that the Government made and implemented last week to give EFA – Export Finance Australia for your listeners at home – the capacity to be able to support purchases of shipments or to underwrite purchases of shipments really puts Australia in the front of the queue, and the work that the Prime Minister is doing later this week – for example, meeting Prime Minister Wong in Singapore – they are a really important fuel security partner for Australia, both for them and them for Australia in liquid fuel terms. So, making sure that we're leaning into the relationships that we have in the region with our fuel security partners is really important. Australia's improved standing in the region is a real asset now when we're facing shortages in global markets.

HOST: Now, both sides of the Government, over time, both Labor and Liberals, have grappled with the whole idea of keeping fuel supplies onshore here. Is now a good time to talk about needing to up that in the future, say 50 days instead of like around the 30 that we have at the moment?

AYRES: Well, we've certainly added to – the National Reconstruction Fund, of course, which I'm responsible for, $6.15 billion there now fast-tracked so that we're able to invest in additional fuel security measures. We're going to work through those issues in an immediate sense and having that capital available to support both in fuel production terms, but also in the fuel supply chain, being able to support working capital there is a really important asset for us in improving Australia's fuel resilience. We are in a better position than we have been for 15 years, but we're not complacent about that. We’re faced with it.

HOST: If New Zealand has about 50 days, right? So, how can a country smaller than us, such as New Zealand, which is pretty similar, some people might argue we're not too similar to New Zealanders, but how do they have 50 and we have less?

AYRES: Well, I don't want to go down the rabbit hole of how these things are measured and the difference between the IEA requirements and our domestic fuel reserves. All I can say is that we're in a stronger position in this crisis now because of the steps that the Albanese Government has taken before the crisis in terms of Minimum Stockholding Obligations. But we're also not complacent about what that means for Australia and Australians, to back our truckies by making sure not only that we're doing what we have to do at an international level to secure more supply, but that we're supporting the fuel companies, directing the fuel companies to make sure that supply gets to where it needs to go.

HOST: If I can turn to another topic, it is all still related, though, obviously. The US President Donald Trump talking about some sort of deal between the US and Iran. He's threatening to destroy power plants and bridges. What do you make of that language? Is that appropriate? Do you consider it threatening a war crime?

AYRES: Well, I've managed to make my way through the last couple of years without offering a running commentary on what it is that the United States administration says or what announcements are made there, rather dealing with Australia's national interest and focusing on that. And it is in Australia's interests for there to be de-escalation. It's in Australia's interest for the Strait of Hormuz to be open safely to shipping, not just for fuel, but for fertiliser and a range of products that Australia relies upon, and the extended supply chains that we have. That's what we want to see. We're not an active participant in the region. We've provided some support to our Gulf partners in a defensive capacity, particularly for the United Arab Emirates, but we're not a protagonist in this conflict.

HOST: And we've heard, though, as early, as recently as this morning, the US President criticising Australia for not providing more help. What do you say to that?

AYRES: Well, we're lending our voice. We were very clear at the beginning of the conflict. I mean, the Iranian regime is –

HOST: But why does he keep singling Australia out? Why does he keep criticising us? What have we done wrong?

AYRES: – If I can segue back to where I began, I don't think much is served by offering a commentary on what is said –

HOST: It isn’t commentary, to be fair. I mean, the President is criticising your government. Why?

AYRES: Well, that's commentary by definition.

HOST: I don't think it's –

AYRES: I've got to focus on what is it that is in Australia's interest here, and it's in Australia's interest to see de-escalation and the Strait of Hormuz opened. It's also, as at the beginning of the conflict we pointed out, I mean, Iran should not be able to develop nuclear weapons. Iran has conducted hostile activity here in Australia. The Iranian Embassy was expelled from Australia because of that activity. While we're not an active protagonist in the dispute, in the war, it is in our interest to see normal transmission resumed in terms of fuel exports, in particular. That's the interest that we're pursuing here. And we're also working with our regional partners, our energy security partners in particular, to make sure we're doing everything we can to shield Australians from this shock.

HOST: Onto another topic now, we're doing a few today; gun buyback. So, a number of states, they haven't signed on to the Federal Government's plan for this gun buyback. There was that, you know, end date of March 30th. Is it dead? Like, what's going on?

AYRES: No, I think what we want to see is progress here, and we'll be patient, work with our friends in the states and territories to get the best outcome for Australia. Clearly, what happened in Bondi requires reform. It requires reform. And the gun buyback scheme is a really important part of that reform. I think the states and territories should all sign onto it, get on with the job, but we'll be patient and keep working those issues through.

HOST: And when you say patient, I mean how long do you want this to go on for? Is there another deadline that can be done?

AYRES: Well, I'd like to see it resolved tomorrow, but I'm not setting that deadline. I'm just saying the faster that we get there, the safer Australians will be.

HOST: Okay. And just finally, Ben Roberts-Smith has been arrested today, expected to be charged with war crimes when he faces court. Your response to that?

AYRES: Well, of course, I've seen the reports, but it just would be completely inappropriate for me to offer a comment. These matters are clearly about to be before the courts, and that's the very last thing that I should do.

HOST: Thank you so much for your time.

AYRES: Thanks, Stephanie.