New fuel supply taskforce established as PM tells Australians to ‘only take what you need’
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The news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed a new fuel supply taskforce has been established, as the US-Israeli war on Iran sends petrol prices soaring and prompts fuel shortages in rural areas.
The context: Speaking after a hastily arranged meeting of the National Cabinet on Thursday, Albanese revealed the taskforce started “days ago” after a decision of the National Security Committee.
The taskforce is being led by Anthea Harris, a former chief executive of the Australian Energy Regulator who will be tasked with overseeing state and Commonwealth coordination.
State and territory leaders will nominate a “point person” to work with Harris as efforts are coordinated across jurisdictions, the prime minister confirmed.
Albanese insisted Australia’s fuel supply has not yet been affected by the war, saying shortages were the result of panic buying by people concerned about future price rises.
“There is not less fuel in Australia today than there was three weeks ago,” he said.
“Every single ship that was due to land here has landed here. There is not less supply. This has been an issue of increased demand.”
Israel attacked Iran’s South Pars gas site — part of the world’s largest natural gas field — overnight, an attack which prompted oil prices to leap to nearly USD110 ($156) per barrel. Tehran responded by attacking a Qatari energy industry site, while Saudi Arabia reported it had intercepted attacks on its territory.
“Obviously, supply and demand has an impact. What we want to see is a deescalation,” Albanese said.
Echoing similar comments from Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Thursday, Albanese accepted that Australia could not be sure how long the war would last but claimed he was “hopeful that you can see an end point”.
The Trump administration has given mixed signals on how long it expected its war, which has prompted widespread reprisals from Iran, to last.
Albanese, who supported the initial US-Israeli attack, claimed the war had “secured” its main objective of preventing Iran from building a nuclear weapon.
Just nine months ago, US President Donald Trump claimed Tehran’s nuclear facilities had been “obliterated” after a separate US attack on the country.
After Australia condemned Iranian reprisals in the United Nations overnight, Albanese framed Tehran’s attacks on its regional neighbours — including Gulf states which host US air bases — as “unprovoked”.
“[That] is one of the reasons why Australia has provided … defensive mechanisms to Gulf States, because there’s no justification whatsoever for Iran undertaking these attacks,” he said.
What they said: “Please do not take more fuel than you need. That is how you can help,” Albanese said.
“It’s the Australian way to think of others, to think of their neighbours, their community, and also to think of the national interest. Only take what you need.”
The sources: Anthony Albanese press conference, BBC, Al Jazeera
