As fuel prices spike, many Australians are understandably anxious. Photos of empty bowsers, long queues, and high prices create the impression of a system under strain.
What we are seeing isn’t a collapse of Australia’s fuel supply chain. Shipments are still arriving and most deliveries continue as planned. While some cargoes have been disrupted, governments and industry have actively secured alternative supplies. What this crisis shows is the lack of a clear, long-term strategy to reduce dependence on fuel shipped from conflict zones thousands of kilometres away.
Because Australia is so reliant on trucks running on imported fuel, rising diesel costs are now flowing through the economy and pushing up the cost of freight, food and everyday goods.
