ROB Mitchell, in between parliamentary business and question time, spoke with the Review for a brief interview from Canberra on Thursday last week.
Mr Mitchell said the fuel supply issue has been at the forefront of parliamentary business this week, and he is keen to stop the spread of misinformation.
“Petrol stations are telling me they’ve sold a week’s supply in one day,” he said.
“Fuel supplies are better than they been in a long time. It’s like anything in a free market, if we weren’t panic buying, routes would continue to do their job. Our supplies have not hindered. Once it starts it snowballs into everything else — panic purchases at supermarkets, toilet paper — we should have learnt. Crude oil prices are already coming down a little.”
The government has acted to ensure a fair go for consumers refuelling at the petrol station by working with industry to increase fuel supply to service stations, including helping the fuel sector to secure ACCC authorisation to coordinate supply and unlock bottlenecks.
“We worked with the ACCC to give them more powers to issue on the spot fines for price gouging by doubling penalties for false or misleading conduct or cartel behaviour (to a maximum of $1000M (per offence) across the country”
Mr Mitchell advised of repercussions of storing fuel in make shift containers.
“Careful about storing fuel, [upon a claim] you may find your insurance is void and potentially facing EPA fines … and it’s a waste of money if it goes off.”
On McEwen projects of importance, Mr Mitchell highlighted: “Extra funding for schools, the Watson Street project in Wallan, the mobile black spots in Beveridge and opening up the Yan Yean Reservoir for recreational fishing.”
Mr Mitchell and Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas have collaborated to support a local volunteer, Jack Bamford, in his Fishing for Mental Health Initiative since last year. The events were held at Lauriston Reservoir near Kyneton.
“Sealing Old Sydney Road is important and I’ll be pushing Mitchell Shire Council hard to get this under way,” Mr Mitchell said.
On the vigil for 22-year-old security guard, Aiden Becker, who was killed on March 6 while trying to protect a 14-year-old male from a robbery at Mernda train station, Mr Mitchell said: “Devastating. I’m hoping to get home [from Canberra] in time to go as a community member, it is not a political thing.”
