Can I welcome you to Australia, Dr Birol. Thank you for your address to the National Press Club, and thank you for your leadership of the IEA. We live in very difficult global times. And the global turbulence, of course, is having an impact right around the world, and it requires a national response. Consistent with the recommendation of the IEA, we have released 20 per cent of our reserves, but we've also undertaken a range of other measures to ensure that we secure supply and also that we deal with distribution issues. In a continent as large as ours, that is part of the challenge that we have, is getting all of the fuel to the right places where it is needed. In addition to that, what we're doing is working with our international partners. I had a discussion with Lawrence Wong, Prime Minister of Singapore, just before our Question Time at one o'clock this afternoon, and we've released a statement about the importance of the security of supply chains going forward. That is really important. Last week, I convened a meeting of our National Cabinet, which is myself as Prime Minister, with all of the State Premiers and Chief Ministers, because I want to make sure that we're over prepared. And the Minister, of course, has also convened a meeting the following day, on Friday with his counterparts in the states and territories. We're primarily responsible for supply issues. Some of the distribution and demand issues are easier dealt with by our respective state and territory governments, but we're working very closely with industry as well. This is a challenging time of uncertainty. And as you have said, this represents a greater shock than the previous two energy shocks, if you look at the impact that it's having right around the world. And of course, no country is immune from it. But your visit here is very timely, and we welcome you.
DR FATIH BIROL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY: Mr Prime Minister. Thank you very much for receiving me. I consider Australia one of the cornerstones of the region and global energy security, and thank you very much for your leadership, Mr. Prime Minister. I believe we are facing the greatest global energy security threat today. Oil, natural gas and some of the very important arteries of our economy, such as the petrochemical fertilisers and others. As the International Energy Agency, our core mission is energy security. So, we have released on the 11th of March, 400 million barrels of oil to the market. So, thank you very much for your contribution, and also Mr. Minister, with the contribution from Australia and other countries. We have seen a relaxation in the markets, a comfort we have provided to markets. But events are [inaudible]. We also recently provided some suggestions to countries around the world, how they can also reduce the demand, and in addition to those, the international energy diplomacy is our work. I am in touch with the governments in Middle East, North America, Europe, but Mr. Prime Minister, Asia is at the forefront of this challenge. So, it's a great honour for me to meet with you today. I had a pleasure to discuss with my friend, my colleague, Chris Bowen, this morning. And from here Mr. Prime Minister, I will travel to Tokyo to meet the Prime Minister Takaichi, and some other leaders in the region and back to Paris. But thank you very much for your leadership and for the cooperation with the international activities. Thank you very much.
