The Federal Government has launched a multi-million dollar advertising campaign urging Australians to reduce their fuel consumption as hundreds of petrol stations across the country continue to have no or multiple types of fuel.
‘Every little bit helps’ will feature adverts on television, radio, billboards and posters reminding Australians that we are currently at stage two of the four-stage National Fuel Security Plan.
Stage two is called “Keep Australia Moving”, with stage three requiring the government to “take targeted action” and stage four – when we reach it – requiring the government to intervene to ensure critical fuel users are protected and to prevent major economic disruption.
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The Federal Government’s fuel saving advertising campaign is said to have cost $20 million, according to multiple media reports, and opposition criticism has led to ministers – including the Prime Minister – defending the campaign on breakfast radio today.
The new campaign doesn’t just aim to remind Australians that fuel is expensive and scarce, something that’s hard to miss when you’ve been living under a rock. The Government has launched Fuelplan.gov.au to provide motorists with fuel saving tips including:
- Only buy the fuel you need
- Use of air conditioning and heating on low levels
- Drive with the windows closed
- Inflate your tires to the highest recommended pressure
- Removing unnecessary exterior parts such as roof racks and spoilers to reduce drag
- Carry less weight
- Minimizing idle time
The campaign was attacked by the opposition, as Shadow Defense Secretary James Paterson said Sky News Sunday agenda: “Frankly, I don’t think Australians want to be lectured to by taxpayer-funded political propaganda about driving less.”
“They want a government that will do its job and make sure we have the refined fuel we need… and an advertising campaign isn’t going to achieve that.”
As of Tuesday 7 April 2026, the Australian Government had 38 days of petrol and 31 days of diesel supply remaining based on normal consumption – up from 29 days and 26 days respectively in mid-March.
The Australian government has already reduced fuel excise duty for three months from April 1, 2026, halving it from 52.6 cents per liter to 26.3 cpl. In response, state and territory governments across the country provided fuel rebates of 5.7cpl, funded by goods and services tax revenue.
These discounts are valid until June 30, 2026.
The government has also temporarily changed Australia’s fuel quality standards to reintroduce higher sulfur levels from March to May, allowing new petrol supplies of about 100 million liters per month, and has lowered the flash point for diesel fuel to allow for more supply options.
Other government measures include: a three-month abolition of the heavy vehicle road tax for vehicles with a maximum permissible mass (GVM) of over 4.5 tonnes; the underwriting of oil shipments; and the appointment of a fuel supply taskforce coordinator.
The government has ruled out fuel rationing for now, but provisions in the Liquid Fuel Emergency Act – updated in 2019 – provide for a rationing mechanism that would limit motorists to a set dollar amount of fuel per transaction.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is flying to Brunei and Malaysia this week to secure Australia’s fuel and fertilizer supplies.
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