Government and motoring groups have warned that panic buying, not a shortage of fuel, is the biggest threat to Australia’s petrol supplies. Regional service stations in areas like the Barossa and Mildura have seen demand double or triple amid fears over rising oil prices linked to the Middle East conflict.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen urged Australians to remain calm, stating in parliament that the nation does not have a fuel shortage. He noted a “massive spike” in demand, with fuel sales up 238% in the Adelaide Hills and Barossa, and 100% in Mildura. “The biggest risk to availability in Australia right now is panic buying,” he said.
However, some regional fuel distributors claim the shortage is due to wholesale petrol being reserved for big cities. Bartranz Petroleum in Queensland reported receiving only about 10% of its usual fuel allocation from Brisbane. “Whether it is a supply problem or a distribution problem, the result for rural Australia is exactly the same – we cannot access fuel,” the company said on social media.
The NRMA’s Peter Khoury described a “vicious cycle” where panic buying puts pressure on supply, making the situation worse. He urged Australians not to panic buy and called on oil companies to ensure supply chains are working. The government held an emergency taskforce meeting with farming, transport and fuel bodies, which recognised supply chain pressures in regional areas but affirmed that overall fuel supply remains stable.
Peter Jones of the Motor Trades Association of Australia said some regional service stations cannot replenish stocks quickly enough to meet the surge. He noted that independent stations without formal contracts with big oil companies may be last in line for resupply. Jones urged people to buy fuel normally and to be respectful of staff, as some customers have become abusive when faced with higher prices or empty pumps.
