Emergency Application Powers for Road Transport Contractual Chain Orders
Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026
House of Representatives
Senate
Assent
Introduced by: The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP (ALP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Amanda Rishworth ALP
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. Introduction Our road transport industry is vital to keeping our nation’s economy moving. Without trucks and their drivers, the movement of essential supplies across Australia stops. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has led to a sharp spike in the price of fuel.”
Dan Tehan LIB
“Well, we’ve seen this morning what this government is all about when it comes to dealing with the national fuel crisis. It is all about politics; it’s not about real solutions for the Australian people. We put forward a motion this morning about bringing forward the Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for ACCC Enforcement) Bill 2026.”
Ali France ALP
“I rise to speak on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for ACCC Enforcement) Bill 2026 and the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026. Global conflict is disrupting fuel supply chains, and this government is acting.”
Jane Hume LIB
“This morning, according to reports, there are over 870 petrol stations across Australia that have run out of one or more types of petrol. The average price of diesel is now $3.20 per litre. The average price of unleaded is $2.80 per litre. Yet, when the coalition raised this crisis some weeks ago now, Labor ministers told this chamber that there was nothing to see here.”
Ellie Whiteaker ALP
“Australians are looking at global conflict and the rising price of fuel, and are rightly asking what it means at home. Our government is taking action to keep essential services running and get fuel to where it’s needed most. This is just one of the things our government is doing.”
“I rise to speak on the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026. We’re now entering the fifth week of the fuel supply crisis the government denied existed and sought to ignore. First, the government told us there was no fuel supply shortage. Apparently, Australia had the best fuel stocks in 15 years.”
“The Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026 is a drop in the tank when it comes to managing the fuel crisis. The bill relates to road transport contract chain orders which used to be called delivery contracts. It allows those contracts between businesses and their trucking companies to be renegotiated as a result of this fuel crisis. Currently, that process takes 12 months or more.”
Matt O'Sullivan LIB
“I rise to speak on the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026. I always listen carefully to Senator Roberts. I think he makes often great contributions on debates. Whether I agree with them or not, they’re always well thought and considered.”
Glenn Sterle ALP
“I proudly rise to make my contribution to the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026. I didn’t intend to make a contribution today, because I’d rather cut the time down and get the vote on and get on with it. But I can’t be silent.”
Sean Bell PHON
“I rise today to talk about the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026. At its core, this bill appears to be an effort to fast-track a process to deal with emergency fuel related pressure in the road transport sector.”
Dave Sharma LIB
“Given the alacrity and urgency with which the government has introduced this legislation into the chamber and given the lack of review, scrutiny and debate that have been provided for it, you would think that this legislation would be about addressing the national fuel crisis. But will this legislation lower the price of fuel across Australia? No. Will it improve transparency around supply? No.”
Helen Polley ALP
“I rise today to support the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026. I do so proudly as part of a Labor government that believes in one simple idea: if you work hard, you deserve a fair go. That belief has guided this government from day 1. It’s why we’ve lifted wages, strengthened workplace protections and stood up for the people who too often get squeezed at the bottom of the system.”
Kerrynne Liddle LIB
“I rise to speak on the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026. Labor has forgotten Australians. We’ve heard some evidence today they might have just caught up with what’s going on. Finally, the Prime Minister has responded to coalition pressure and, I understand, is moving to change the fuel excise.”
“Without trucks, Australia stops. Labor is acting now to ensure we can keep Australia moving. This bill, the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026, gives the Fair Work Commission the power to act quickly in those moments of crisis. At its core, this bill is about something very simple—fairness.”
Sean Bell PHON
“I also rise to talk on the Fair Work Amendment (Fairer Fuel) Bill 2026. This bill, brought on very quickly in this national fuel crisis, is the ultimate mea culpa that is, unfortunately, common from the Labor government.”