By Tom Wark and Grace Crivellaro in Canberra
Australians are being reassured of a government-co-ordinated national response to the global fuel crisis but the prime minister has not announced any new measures to help solve the issue.
Speaking alongside Energy Minister Chris Bowen on Friday, Anthony Albanese said the fuel supply looked good for the short term, but the US-Israel war on Iran was affecting Australia.
“The war is real. The war is having an impact on Australians, like it’s having an impact right around the world,” he told reporters.
“You can’t wish that away. What you can do is respond in an appropriate, orderly, adult way, working with industry, with different levels of government to make a difference.”
Mr Albanese will meet with state and territory leaders on Monday for a national cabinet meeting on the fuel crisis.
Six fuel shipments to Australia that were cancelled or deferred had been replaced by new cargoes, Mr Bowen said.
He said Australia’s petrol, diesel and oil supply would be the same, if not higher, for the next few weeks after orders were put in with suppliers.
“At least three other extra cargoes have been ordered by our refiners and our importers so that for the next few weeks, Australia’s supply of petrol and diesel and oil will be the same, if not higher than it normally would be,” he said.
He reassured people planning to travel during Easter that there were six cargo loads of jet fuel on its way to Australia.
“None of them have been cancelled,” Mr Bowen said.
Meanwhile, fuel companies are being forced to share data about their supplies and sales in NSW to help the state government prepare for potential emergency powers.
Notices demanding a wide range of information had been issued to fuel providers to help form a complete view of NSW’s fuel supplies as the Middle East war dragged on, the state’s Environment Minister Penny Sharpe announced.
“We need a clear picture of the situation to best support people and communities as we navigate the challenges posed by this global conflict,” Ms Sharpe said.
Oil prices have skyrocketed since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran in late February.
The edict from NSW comes as limits on how much petrol people can buy reaches at least one metropolitan service station.
An employee at a Shell-branded service station on Sydney’s northern beaches confirmed to AAP the outlet had implemented a cap of 50 litres per person and banned the filling of jerry cans.
More than 500 service stations were without some kind of fuel on Thursday, but more petrol and diesel was flowing to the regions.
Iran has been attacking regional energy infrastructure and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, forcing countries to respond to global fuel supply shortages.
The government has insisted Australia has enough fuel and that shortages are being driven by panic buying, which was seen during COVID-19 lockdowns.
Opposition Labor Angus Taylor accused the government of putting Australia in a vulnerable position by not “managing their own budgets”.
“We’re seeing a government that has failed to show leadership, has failed to show urgency, and has failed to take action,” he told reporters during a press conference at a Canberra petrol station.
Mr Taylor said halving the 52.6c a litre excise, as well as the heavy vehicle road user charge, would give immediate relief for “hard-working Australians”.
“We need affordable fuel in this country, we need secure fuel in this country, and we need it as fast as possible,” he said.
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