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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Catie McLeod Consumer affairs reporter

Labor to use new fuel security powers to underwrite extra shipments to Australia

Fuel prices are seen at a petrol station in Melbourne
Anthony Albanese on Saturday announced forthcoming legislation to guarantee private sector purchases of fuel and fertiliser, and urged Australians to only ‘take what they need’ at the petrol bowser. Photograph: Ye Myo Khant/SOPA Images/Shutterstock

The Australian government will take on the financial risk of additional imports of essential products affected by the war in the Middle East, to get extra supplies of petrol, diesel and fertiliser into the country.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, announced the new fuel security powers on Saturday after a month of soaring diesel and petrol prices and widespread shortages at service stations, particularly in regional Australia.

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