Common sense urged as Aussies feel pinch at the pump
Australians are once again being urged to exercise common sense at the fuel pump as the government prepares special powers to help improve supply across the country.
Emergency legislation will be introduced to federal parliament on Monday and will allow the government to support fuel suppliers who collect stockpiles from around the world and bring them to Australia.
The government will not pay for the fuel, instead using public funds as insurance for companies forced to buy supplies as prices soar.
Ongoing uncertainty over the Iran War, which caused prices to rise and supplies to decrease due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, led the government to propose special powers.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia’s fuel supplies were stable and would remain so for the coming weeks.
But the forces will help the nation be “over-prepared” for ongoing conflict.
“This isn’t about dealing with something that’s going to happen next week, it’s about prudent planning, being over-prepared,” he said on Saturday.
“This is a really practical measure, so if there is a cargo ship being tendered from a country like Korea, then the private sector can do this with the confidence that comes from government support to secure additional supply.”
Australia currently has 39-day stocks of gasoline, 30-days of diesel and 30-days of jet fuel.
But while Mr Albanese urged individuals and businesses to use common sense, people should not feel the need to stock up on fuel for themselves.
“People should take as much as they need, not more,” he said.
“I don’t want everything to be ordered, but common sense needs to prevail.
“There are more people working from home and being able to do that, which makes sense. There are more people using public transportation than before (and) that makes sense too.”
In Victoria, the state government will make public transport free next month to help people avoid the hassle of refueling their vehicles.
Passengers will not need to touch their myki travel cards and all public transport doors will be open as of Tuesday, March 31.
Trains, trams and buses are expected to become busier, but the government says thousands of extra services have been added to the network to meet demand.
“This is a temporary measure to help with living costs; it will take the pressure off the pump and help you save money,” Prime Minister Jacinta Allan said.
“This won’t solve every problem, but it’s an urgent step to help Victorians right now as we continue to work on new solutions to make Victoria more affordable.”
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