News live: Bowen says Australian fuel reserve has increased despite cancelled import ships; missing Japanese tourist, 81, found alive in Tasmania

Follow live updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia not ‘contemplating’ fuel rationing but state and federal governments have powers, Bowen saysState governments also had fuel rationing powers, Chris Bowen said.When I was a kid … in the 80s in Sydney, I remember petrol rationing was done by state governments – the state governments do have powers there.Yes, the Commonwealth government, under the fuel emergency act, has powers.It’s not designed to be invoked lightly. It really has powers primarily around defence and health, in the first instance, to ensure that those key areas are getting diesel that they need, but also other forms of fuel.I would need to be satisfied that there’s a real shortage and that the powers under that act are useful. Continue reading...