Govt asleep at the wheel as fuel crisis bites – Labour

The Government is looking increasingly unprepared as fuel stocks fall and prices for New Zealanders keep rising.

“Christopher Luxon isn’t being straight with New Zealanders – he still hasn’t explained what happens if shortages hit,” Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.

“National can’t say at what point we move from one stage to another. Kiwis deserve to know what the plan is, but two months into this conflict, there isn’t one.

“This is the second update in a week showing New Zealand’s supply of petrol, diesel, and jet fuel have all gone down. Most alarming, there’s now less than three weeks of diesel in the country, which is critical for the economy.

“We would have been much better prepared if National hadn’t scrapped Labour’s proposal to build an additional 70 million litres of diesel storage.

“Families already stretched by rising food, healthcare and energy costs are now facing even higher fuel prices with no relief in sight.

“Dealing with the fuel crisis should be this Government’s top priority. Instead, they’re sitting back and hoping for the best. Hope is not a plan, and it won’t keep fuel flowing for households and businesses.

“Other countries are already acting decisively. In Australia, they’re pulling out all the stops. Our government needs to step up,” Chris Hipkins said.