The Liquid Fuel Emergency Act 1984 (the Act) provides the Commonwealth Government with the authority needed to prepare for, and manage, a national liquid fuel emergency. The Australian Government Minister for Resources and Energy, the Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP, is the responsible Minister under the Act.
Supporting the Liquid Fuel Emergency Act 1984 are the Liquid Fuel Emergency Guidelines that provide the decision maker, the Minister for Resources and Energy with guidance on making a direction under the particular sections of the Act.
The Guidelines were first issued in 1984 to coincide with the passage of the Act. Following the passage of the Liquid Fuel Emergency Amendment Bill 2007 in June 2007 the original Guidelines became obsolete and new Guidelines were promulgated on 19 September 2008.
The Guidelines address the following Sections under the Act:
Section 10: Bulk Customers of relevant fuel industry corporations or relevant persons.
Section 11: Essential Users of refined liquid petroleum products.
Section 12: Minister may direct relevant fuel industry corporations to maintain reserves etc.
Section 13: Minister may direct relevant fuel industry corporations to develop bulk allocation procedures.
Section 14: Minister may direct relevant fuel industry corporations and relevant persons to maintain statistical information.
Section 14A: Minister may direct relevant fuel industry corporations and relevant persons to make available statistical information.
Section 17: Minister may direct relevant fuel industry corporations to maintain reserves etc.
Section 20: Minister may give direction as to output from refineries.
Section 21: Minister may give directions with respect to allocation by corporations of liquid fuel to bulk customers.
Section 22: Minister may give directions with respect to allocation by relevant persons of liquid fuel to bulk customers.
Section 23: Minister may give directions to corporations regulating or prohibiting supply of liquid fuel.
Section 24: Minister may give directions to relevant persons regulating or prohibiting supply of liquid fuel.