The Deputy Prime Minister made his rounds on television today to reassure Australians that supplies of petrol and diesel here are stable despite the Middle East conflict and rising fuel prices – and to keep calm and carry on.
“As we speak, the same amount of fuel is actually coming into the country that was coming in,” Richard Marles, Australia’s defense minister and deputy prime minister, said First edition of Sky News.
“But we recognize that this conflict, as you know, if it continues for a long period of time, obviously can have an impact on Australia’s fuel supply.
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“With this in mind, we have released 20 percent of national supplies (760 million liters of fuel), focusing on the regions – places where the need is greatest.
“What we are asking Australians to do at this time is to go about their business as usual.”
Upon request from sunrise As to whether there will be fuel rationing at that time, he simply replied, “No.”
Accordingly SBSAs of March 14, 2026, Australia has a 29 day supply of petrol and a 26 day supply of diesel. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has warned fuel retailers for raising prices much earlier than expected and there have been reports of Australians stockpiling fuel.
Mr Marles’ comments come after Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced on March 12, 2026 that the Government would allow higher sulfur content in fuels over the next 60 days.
Mr Bowen said this could add about 100 million liters a month to Australia’s domestic supply, fuel that would otherwise have been exported.
He said Ampol Australia was committed to ensuring this additional supply was prioritized for regions experiencing shortages and for the wholesale spot market that supports independent traders and harvesters.
Mr Marles has confirmed that this stock will reach petrol stations in the coming days.
Upon request from Sky News As to whether the Government could guarantee Australia would not run out of fuel, Mr Marles said he could not predict how the Middle East conflict, in which Iran had fired on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, would develop.
“We will do everything in our power to respond to this situation,” Mr. Marles said.
“But you know clearly that if the conflict continues for a long period of time and the Strait of Hormuz is not open, it will have an impact on the global supply chain.
“I’m just not going to speculate about the future because I don’t know how long this conflict in the Middle East will last. But we’re going to approach it very carefully.”
“And at the moment, I emphasize again, the same amount of fuel is entering the country today as before this conflict began.”
He also declined to be questioned Show today over whether the Australian Defense Force should be tasked with deploying fuel tankers in Australia, arguing that it was up to state governments to request this support.
“I think the fundamental ability to get fuel out there will be with the fuel companies,” he added.
“And there it is. I’m not sure the defense will make a significant difference in the next few days.”
Australia only has two oil refineries and imports around 90 percent of its oil, leaving us at the mercy of global headwinds.
While the government has said it is pulling the triggers to ensure Australia’s fuel supply, it confirmed earlier this month it would not cut fuel taxes, even as prices at the pump rise.
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