FUEL CRISIS:

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be to blame if the fire at Viva Energy’s oil refinery near Geelong aggravates petrol and diesel shortages across Australia.

The claim was made by Mr Taylor in footage that emerged today of a hurried exchange between a Geelong journalist and the Liberal Party leader.

The shaky mobile phone video was shot by a reporter for The Corio Courier just down the road from the refinery soon after Wednesday night’s explosion that sparked the fire.

In it Mr Taylor (main picture) told the reporter that any fuel shortages caused by the fire would reflect badly on the Albanese Government.

“I fervently hope that this fire causes massive fuel shortages… I mean doesn’t cause massive fuel shortages,” he said before explaining he had coincidentally been in the area during a suddenly arranged late-night visit to Geelong when the fire broke out.

“But if it does cause shortages – which I repeat I hope it will… I mean, won’t – then Anthony Albanese will be entirely to blame.”

The local reporter then asked Mr Taylor if he was satisfied with the response by fire fighters and police to the blaze which they estimated had started at about 11pm Wednesday night.

“No, it would have been about 10.45 I reckon by the time I got over the fen…, I mean yes, yes, it was a magnificent response,” he said.

The reporter then advised Mr Taylor that early indications from Viva Energy officials at the fire scene suggested that the blaze may not cause major supply disruptions.

“Damn!” he said scowling before smiling and adding: “It should have been so much … I mean it could have been so much worse.

“Damn fine news, I say,” Mr Taylor said through gritted teeth and a forced grin.

“But it really is way too soon to make hard and fast assessments like that and, I repeat, Anthony Albanese will be to blame for any fuel shortages arising from this fire.”

When asked why he continued to blame the PM, Mr Taylor said the reason was simple.

“Who do you think is letting in all the immigrants who are driving Ubers or driving cars to work in our nursing homes or a whole host of other entry-level jobs that they are stealing from Australians who don’t apply for those jobs?” he said.

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