Easter travel: Australians urged to stick to plans amid fuel shortages

Australian authorities urged motorists to stick to their Easter long‑weekend plans even as hundreds of service stations, mainly in rural areas, reported running out of at least one fuel grade. Energy Minister Chris Bowen, speaking on television, told travellers to “stick to your plans” but to take only the fuel they need.

Officials say the disruption stems from heightened demand and strains on international supply lines tied to the Middle East conflict. Bowen told parliament that about 312 of roughly 8,000 service stations were without diesel and that national stocks equated to about 39 days of petrol, 29 days of diesel and 30 days of jet fuel — figures he presented to reassure consumers while acknowledging regional replenishment delays.

Market and consumer reactions have included higher pump prices in many areas and altered travel behavior, with some travellers cancelling long road trips and others choosing to refuel in cities rather than regional towns. Industry groups and local reporting suggest that panic buying in certain pockets accelerated temporary stockouts, compounding logistical challenges for distributors servicing remote outlets.

The federal government has taken short‑term measures to broaden supply options and is pursuing overseas supply agreements. Regulators have temporarily relaxed diesel flashpoint standards to allow a wider range of refined products into the market, and Canberra is reported to be negotiating imports from alternative refining hubs to shore up supply. These policy moves aim to ease immediate shortages while longer‑term flows return to normal.

Analysts say the near‑term outlook hinges on tanker arrivals, refinery output adjustments and consumer behaviour over the coming weeks; some experts caution that shipments scheduled after mid‑April remain uncertain, so disciplined purchasing and avoided panic buying will be important to stabilise regional availability. Government officials emphasize current national stock levels are manageable but urge drivers to plan fills in urban areas where supplies are more secure.