MATT SHIRVINGTON, HOST: Fuel has everyone talking on our text line. A motorist could now face a $40 cap at the bowser. Under a doomsday fuel solution available to the government in Australia's emergency response manual, freedom of information laws have revealed that the energy minister could impose a daily total transaction limit at the pump if our fuel crisis worsens. For more, we're joined by Catherine King, Federal Transport Minister. Good to have you with us. So, would the government consider a $40 cap at the Bowser?

MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CATHERINE KING: Well, it's not something that the government is considering, and I think the document you're referring to is a 2019 document. It's an old document.

What we have been doing is, each and every day, trying to make sure our fuel supply is getting to where it's needed, making sure that it is secure, as well as trying to deal with, on a daily basis, some of the changes that we're seeing, you know, cracking down through the ACCC on some of the pricing that we're seeing, increasing penalties, really trying to work our way through what is an international crisis that obviously is having an impact here. We're also, through subsequent budgets, we've been delivering cost of living relief. You'll see another tax cut on its way, trying to get increases in minimum wages and award wages, as well as the work we've done on health services. So we're not considering it.

SHIRVINGTON: Let's just stay on fuel. You say that it's a document from 2019, and you're right, but it's a current-day problem, isn't it? Chris Bowen, Albo, the PM of course, keeps saying that it's not about supply. We've got the fuel, we're just not getting it to the right places. The other thing that people are saying on our text line, and this is the big one, first is price, the second one is hoarding. How do you stop people going to the bowser and filling up water tanks, jerry cans etc? You've got to do something about that, and you probably have to do it now.

KING: Well, the message is pretty clear. You know, people should go about their normal business. The fuel supply continues to hold in Australia because of the work that we did to have those minimum stockholding obligations. We're seeing that. We're seeing the supply continue to arrive. And it's really important for people to understand that. Go about your normal business. It's dangerous to be filling up water tanks with fuel. It also degrades over time. So it's actually not that useful to store it for a long period of time.

SHIRVINGTON: Oh, it's dangerous.

KING: But also, yeah, it is dangerous. But also, what it means is then you're denying fuel for another person, a tradesperson who might need it desperately to get to work, to build a home for someone. You're denying it for other people. So really think about what you're doing. We've got plenty of fuel in the country. Obviously there's been demand surges because of some of this hoarding and that's meant that we've had to really work hard to try and make sure we're getting it delivered to where it's needed to be and make some changes. And we're doing all of that and getting on top of this, you know, every time there's changes. So really, the message is clear to people. You know, we're all in this together. And you've got to actually look after your neighbours and look after your mates in this as well and really think about it, not hoard fuel.

SHIRVINGTON: We've just got to get the trucks out there to the servos that need it, particularly in the regions. Minister, I wanted to ask about airfares. Of course, we saw with fuel going up that some people were opportunistic, trying to take advantage of that. In terms of fuel prices, are you going to keep an eye on what's happening with ticket prices as well?

KING: Yeah, absolutely. The ACCC is already monitoring airfares, and the airlines are on notice. This isn't an opportunity to make a commercial gain out of this. We understand that fuel costs have gone up and some of that will be passed on in ticket prices, but you've got to justify that and the ACCC is watching that very carefully.

SHIRVINGTON: And just quickly too, Sydney's new airport looks like it's all set to go.  A reaction to people buying tickets, and soon international flights will start coming into Western Sydney.

KING: Yeah, absolutely. Tickets will go on sale around 1 o'clock today on the website. Your first overnight flight from Sydney to Singapore, departing at midnight, arriving 5 am Singapore time. Great for Western Sydney International Airport. First flight's 23rd of November. So, I'm sure there'll be lots of people excited about that. Singapore's a great place to visit yourself, but also, it's a great hub for the rest of the world.

SHIRVINGTON: Alright, Catherine King, appreciate your time.