SARAH ABO, HOST: Well, states are calling on the Albanese Government to take a lead role in coordinating Australia's response to the fuel crisis. It comes as the International Energy Agency warns that fuel shortages will endure long after the end of the Iran war. For more, we are joined this morning by Communications Minister Anika Wells in Canberra. Minister, good morning to you.

MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS ANIKA WELLS: Good morning, Sarah.

SARAH ABO: So we're facing now more than 100 petrol stations around the country that have run dry. Is now really the time for the Federal Government to be pushing back on the states?

ANIKA WELLS: We are all working very closely together. Minister Bowen is working night and day. You would have seen yesterday the Federal Government appointed a fuel tsar in Anthea Harris to be able to coordinate all these different elements of supply and distribution across the nation. Whilst I know people are really worried about this, I did some mobile offices in Boondall and Taigum on Friday. They want to make sure that we are all doing everything we can. I don't think there's any question that all of the ministers, be they state or federal, are doing their very best in this situation to protect Australian households and Australian businesses from these conflicts overseas.

SARAH ABO: Yeah, that tsar was appointed at the same time the Prime Minister said, and I quote, ‘that's a decision for state and territory governments’, so it's not a question for me. I mean, saying that this is a state issue, we know how well that worked during COVID, right? And the issue, Minister, as you would appreciate, is that state laws are not uniform in this country, particularly when it comes to fuel. The Federal Government has similar powers at its disposal, which would keep everything from rationing to price caps consistent. So, if now is not the time to use them, why do they exist?

ANIKA WELLS: I think the nuance to that discussion yesterday was that the Federal Government is in charge of stockpile and supply, the states are in charge of distribution, and that's why we've appointed a tsar to coordinate that as best we can. Not to say that we are shirking from that important work. I know Minister Bowen has been talking with suppliers like Ampol to make sure that, where there are shortages, they go where they're needed and most urgently, whilst we try and reassure people that the preparatory work has been done.

SARAH ABO: The state premiers, are their concerns misguided?

ANIKA WELLS: Look, I'm not going to throw stones here. I'm going to work constructively as a member of the federal cabinet, and I can assure your viewers who are genuinely worried about this, we are doing everything we can to shield Australian households and Australian businesses from the domestic impacts of a global conflict.

SARAH ABO: I guess the issue, Minister, is that the viewers, the audience, your voters, may not believe you. I mean, fuel is pushing $4, potentially within weeks, a litre, right? And then you've got supply chain issues after that, so there's going to be grocery prices that are increasing. Households are feeling this right now and they're looking to the Government for solutions, although they don't seem to be coming.

ANIKA WELLS: Well, I would dispute (solutions aren’t coming), Sarah. And those are things that people are worried about in the future. They're not what we're facing today. 

SARAH ABO: 166 petrol stations have run out of fuel. What's behind that?

ANIKA WELLS: I appreciate that, but that can be something as temporary as an hour shortage while it's on its way. Not to say that's not the case in particular places like South Australia and regional areas. I appreciate what you're saying, but that's why we've appointed a fuel tsar, to make sure that we have someone in particular to work on distribution and make sure fuel is going where it's needed.

SARAH ABO: Australia's been in talks with Singapore, Canada and the United States. What agreements have been made on the oil front?

ANIKA WELLS: Look, the point you're making is correct. The Prime Minister and Ministers Wong and Marles are working on this, and Australia's role in what is a global conflict. You can rely on them to keep Australians updated about the progress of those discussions, but I can assure you that this is front of mind for the Australian Government. We are doing everything we can. The ACCC has now launched enforcement and investigative action into the major fuel suppliers. We've released 20 per cent from the stockpile. We have done major preparatory work well in advance of this ever happening to make sure that Australians can rely on fuel supply and we'll continue to do that work.

SARAH ABO: All right, well, let's hope the tsar is able to understand all of that and communicate it to the states. But just finally, onto your portfolio, Minister. A new eSafety report has found AI chatbot services are failing to Aussie kids from dangerous material. How are these platforms still slipping through the cracks?

ANIKA WELLS: They've had years and years and years to do the right thing on their own. They haven't and so we're going to come down on them like a tonne of bricks. Two out of three Australians under 18 have been using AI chatbots in the past month. While AI is always going to have a place in their education and their future, kids are using it for things like mental health support or relationship support. We really want them to talk to an actual person about that. Whilst the AI chatbot is fake, the harm is real. And so we are putting these companies on notice that if they do not comply, if they do not make sure that the content they are offering to an 11-year-old who is using a chatbot is appropriate, that they will face a fine of up to 49.5 million dollars.

SARAH ABO: A fine they very richly deserve, Anika. Thanks for your time this morning.