Australia urges Easter travel despite fuel shortages
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- Chris Bowen urged Australians to continue Easter travel plans despite fuel shortages, saying “Go take a break – but get no more fuel than you need.”
- 312 stations out of roughly 8,000 service stations have run out of diesel, mostly in rural areas where replenishment takes longer.
- Australia holds reserves of 39 days of petrol, 29 days of diesel, and 30 days of jet fuel.
- Australia imports about 90% of its fuel from the Middle East, making it vulnerable to the US‑Israel war with Iran and the near‑total shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Anthony Albanese warned the economic shock from the Middle East conflict will be felt for months and urged Australians to limit unnecessary fuel use and switch to public transport.
- CMA CGM’s Malta‑flagged container ship became the first major Western European‑owned vessel to traverse the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began on 28 Feb.
- Japanese and Turkish vessels successfully crossed the strait, showing that while traffic is down about 95 % from pre‑conflict levels, limited shipping still occurs.
Why it matters: Rural drivers and holiday travelers face limited diesel availability, with 312 of 8,000 stations empty, while the government’s push to maintain travel will strain the 29‑day diesel reserve and keep fuel prices high, directly impacting households, transport costs, and regional economies.
