Australian Government tells motorists to drive less close their windows and pump up their tyres amid fuel shortages

Hundreds of service stations across the country remain out of one or more types of fuel, with the federal government running a multi-million-dollar advertising campaign encouraging Australians to cut down on their use for gas and diesel.

The campaign will see ads on television, radio and billboards and posters – known as ‘Every little bit helps’ — remind Australians that we’re at level two of the four-level National Fuel Security Plan.

The term “keeping Australia moving” is used in Level two, where level three requires the government to “take targeted action” and level four – if we reach it – to see the Government intervenes to ensure that critical fuel users are protected and to prevent major economic disruption.

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The federal government’s fuel conservation ad campaign is reported to cost $20 million, and ministers – including the Prime Minister – have been criticised by criticism from the opposition today for taking to breakfast radio to defend it.

The new campaign isn’t just to remind Australians that fuel is expensive and scarce, something you’d have to have been living under a rock to miss. The government has launched fuelplan.gov.au to provide drivers with fuel-saving tips, which include:

• Buying only the fuel you need
• Using air-conditioning and heating on low settings
• Driving with your windows closed
• Pumping up your tyres to the highest recommended pressure
• Removing unnecessary exterior parts like roof racks and spoilers to reduce drag
• Carrying less weight
• Minimising idling

The campaign has been attacked by the opposition, with shadow defence minister James Paterson telling Sky News Sunday Agenda: “Frankly, I don’t think Australians want to be lectured by taxpayer-funded political propaganda about driving less.”

They would like “a government that does its job and ensures we are supplied with the refined fuel which we need… and an advertising campaign is not going to make it happen.” , ” and.

The Australian Government has had 38 days of petrol remaining based on the normal rate of consumption as of Tuesday, April 7, 2026; 31 days diesel supply – up from 29 days and 26 days respectively in mid-March.

The Australian Government has already reduced the fuel excise for three months, starting from April 1, 2026, halving it from 52.6 cents per litre to 26.3cpl. This was quickly followed by state and territory governments across the country discounting fuel by 5.7cpl, funded by revenue raised from the goods and services tax.

These discounts will run until June 30, 2026.

The government has also temporarily amended Australia’s fuel quality standards to return to higher sulfur levels from March until May, allowing for around 100 million litres a month of new petrol supply, and lowered the flashpoint for diesel fuel to allow for more supply options.

The government’s other moves include a three-month cut of the heavy vehicle road user charge for vehicles with fewer than 4 gross vehicle mass (GVM) of more than 4. A of 5 tonnes; the writing of oil shipments; and the appointment of a Fuel Supply Taskforce Coordinator.

The government has ruled out fuel rationing for now, but provisions within the Liquid Fuel Emergency Act – updated in 2019 – outline a rationing mechanism that would limit motorists to a set dollar amount of fuel per transaction.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will fly this week to Brunei and Malaysia as he seeks to shore up the supply of fuel and fertiliser into Australia.

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