Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called an urgent meeting of National Cabinet to discuss the fuel crisis. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Anthony Albanese has called an emergency meeting of National Cabinet to discuss Australia’s fuel supply, as shortages worsen across the globe due to the Middle East war.
It will be conducted virtually from Tasmania on Thursday (19 March) with the leaders of all government jurisdictions, and will have a particular focus on getting fuel to regional outlets.
Speaking in Burnie on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said he will chair the meeting from Hobart and will ask each state and territory to appoint someone to coordinate with the Commonwealth on fuel supply issues.
Earlier in Sydney, the PM told an Australian Automotive Dealer Association breakfast meeting that Australia will not be immune from the economic impacts of the war.
“The war in the Middle East is disrupting supply chains, pushing up fuel prices and adding to pressure on inflation, here and right around the world,” Mr Albanese said.
“Australians understand this. People are not just reading about this conflict in the news, they are seeing the economic consequences in their daily lives … and it is obvious, but important to say, that the longer this war goes on, the more significant those effects will be.”
The PM pointed out that the current war is the third major shock to hit the global economy this decade, following COVID and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Even if this one is a relatively short conflict, he said, it will have a long economic tail, and Australia will not escape its impact despite its distance from the action.
“This is why we have been working to build our fuel security over the last four years, and why we are taking new action now,” he said.
“Empowering the ACCC to protect motorists from unfair price rises; boosting fuel supply by releasing 20 per cent of the baseline Minimum Stockholding Obligation for petrol and diesel; getting more fuels made in Australia, into the Australian market, by temporarily amending the fuel standards; and working closely with industry and states and territories to ensure fuel gets where it is needed most, particularly regional communities.”
The PM will meet with all premiers and chief ministers tomorrow to discuss ensuring that coordination across the country maximises benefits for “business, for farmers, for our communities, in our cities, and in particular, in our regions”.
Transport Minister Catherine King is holding a fuel security roundtable with key transport industry stakeholders today.
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins has planned a meeting with the National Food Council next Monday to discuss fuel supply concerns.
“I have asked it to focus its agenda for this meeting squarely on the current situation in the Middle East — receiving briefings from the public service and industry,” Ms Collins said.
“I look forward to meeting with the council to hear their insights and discuss how we can continue to support farmers and producers through the immediate situation.”
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has repeated his call for Australians not to panic buy or stockpile fuel, saying there remains plenty in the supply chain.
All expected fuel deliveries are arriving as planned, and fuel retailers have told the Federal Government that supplies into next month appear fine.
“We have seen some, you know, what I’ve called an un-Australian activity, buying jerry cans, selling them on Facebook marketplace,” Mr Bowen said.
“That’s just, that’s just nuts. It’s really unhelpful. It should stop. But I do think we are seeing … people understand more and more that, you know, our fuel supplies are secure.
“Yes, it can also be the case that we’re facing very real shortages in rural and regional areas because of the big spike in demand, because obviously it’s harder to get fuel to some of these places. The supply chain is a little bit more complicated.”
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said Mr Bowen was failing Australians over the fuel crisis and was not sufficiently across the supply issue.
“He told us last week there was no problem. By the end of the week he admitted there was a national crisis,” Mr Taylor said.
“The answer to this is simple. He has to be across where the fuel is, working with the companies to get it to customers, to get it to farmers, to get it to truckies. He has failed in doing that.
“He allowed one of our two refineries in this country to export their fuel at this time. I mean, they should be selling it to Australians.
“We should have Australian fuel serving Australians, and that has not been the case … It’s not that hard, but at the moment we’ve got a minister who’s checked out.”
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
