ABC News Daily Is it time to ration petrol and diesel?
18 snips
Mar 16, 2026 David Leaney, an international supply chain specialist and ANU lecturer, explains how Australian fuel gets refined and shipped, why local stocks vary, and how panic buying drives prices up. He discusses strategic reserves, temporary regulatory fixes, and practical rationing ideas to protect emergency services and farmers. The conversation also covers shipping risks through the Strait of Hormuz and likely timelines for supply recovery.
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How Global Shipping Routes Limit Australian Fuel
- Australia's fuel supply is distributed from Asian refiners, with most product arriving from Singapore by ship.
- About 20 million barrels/day usually pass the Strait of Hormuz but only ~4 million/day can reroute via Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline, constraining flow.
National Stocks Mask Local Shortages
- Australia holds roughly 30 to 36 days of fuel nationally but stock is unevenly spread across regions.
- Many towns typically have only about a week's supply, so local outages happen quickly when distribution is disrupted.
A Stuck Truck Caused Faraway Fuel Shortages
- Trucks blocked by floods create weird shortages elsewhere because goods and fuel get stuck in odd locations.
- David Leaney describes a truck stuck in the Northern Territory that would otherwise have resupplied towns down the East Coast.