For families, workers, small businesses and community organisations across the Bellarine, Surf Coast and Geelong, fuel is a necessity. In an electorate like Corangamite, people depend on their cars to get to work, take their kids to school and access essential services. When fuel prices rise, the effects can reach well beyond the bowser, adding to freight costs and flowing through to the price of everyday goods and services.

I know people who are feeling the pressure. I hear it from locals right across my electorate, and our government is taking action to address it. Since the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz began disrupting global fuel markets, the Albanese government has worked to protect Australians from the worst of the crisis. Our recent budget delivered a historic $15 billion fuel security package. That includes $7.5 billion through the Fuel and Fertiliser Security Facility to help suppliers secure additional fuel shipments, $3.2 billion for a government controlled Australian fuel security reserve and $2.9 billion in temporary petrol price relief. These investments are strengthening our fuel security, and there is now much more fuel on shore in Australia than when this conflict began.

We are also working to ensure motorists pay a fair price at the bowser. The Treasurer has directed the ACCC to increase its monitoring of fuel prices, and new legislation has doubled the maximum penalty for serious breaches of competition and consumer laws to $100 million. We've committed a further $67.7 million to strengthen the ACCC's enforcement work. The regulator is monitoring fuel pricing and investigating alleged misconduct. Our message is clear: Australian consumers must be protected, and businesses that break the law must face the consequences. We are also improving access to fuel stockpiles, increasing transparency around fuel supplies and requiring shortages of critical products, including diesel, exhaust fluid and technical-grade urea to be reported.

We know fuel prices remain a concern, particularly as the four-month fuel excise reduction comes to an end. That reduction provides temporary relief when prices surged following the conflict in the Middle East. It was designed as a temporary measure, and our broader cost-of-living support continues. This financial year, the Albanese government is delivering $17 billion in cost-of-living relief. That includes $3 billion in fuel excise relief, $2.6 billion in energy bill relief, more than $2 billion in tax cuts and more than $2 billion in increased payments, including support for pensioners. We are also funding pay rises for early childhood educators and aged-care workers, and we're investing a further $5 billion in health. That means supporting services, such as the Medicare urgent care clinic in Torquay and helping Australians access the medicines they need through $25 PBS prescriptions. Our government is also backing higher wages, taking action on supermarket price gouging and working towards a fairer housing market. For eligible small businesses across Corangamite, making the $20,000 instant asset write-off permanent from next year will provide greater certainty when planning investments and purchasing equipment. That's practical support for local businesses, their employees and the communities they serve.

Global fuel markets remain uncertain, and international events continue to affect prices around the world. Our focus is on the things we can do: securing Australia's fuel supplies, protecting consumers from illegal conduct and delivering meaningful cost-of-living relief. As the member for Corangamite, I will keep listening to local families, workers and businesses and keep advocating for the support our community needs. The Albanese government is taking action to strengthen fuel security and ease cost-of-living pressures, and we will continue that work.