Australia is in dire need of fuel, and hundreds of service stations in New South Wales (and in other states) are now running dry with empty bowsers. By March 25, 2026, the average price of diesel will exceed $3 per litre in all but one capital city, Darwin, and will be a historical maximum, putting a strain on households and businesses already faced with increasing living expenses.
Driver hoarders are being advised not to panic-buy, but reports indicate that over 300 service stations have run dry in recent days. Their scarcity stems from supply chain interruptions caused by events around the world, the need to drive long distances to find fuel, and long delays by freight operators.
Emergency Meeting of National Cabinet Prepares
In reaction to this, the federal government has declared that National Cabinet will meet next week to deal with the crisis. Energy authorities are collaborating with fuel suppliers to stabilise the distribution process and prevent further outages. In the meantime, Parliament has brought forward new legislation on price gouging, to enable regulators to take action and prevent unfair profiteering at the pump.
Local premiers have raised the alarm, and the need to calm things down as they await reinforcement by major oil companies is hastened. Nevertheless, the authorities also state that total fuel reserves in the country are still higher than at the beginning of the year.
The situation is also developing, and the authorities observe the course of events on an hourly basis. Industries and commuters who require diesel are encouraged to make plans and to monitor local fuel availability applications to keep updated. This developing crisis highlights the fragility of Australia’s energy supply in a globalised world.