Despite Middle East conflict and high fuel prices, the supply of petrol and diesel here is stable – but to keep calm as well as carry on with our lives today,’ the deputy prime minister has made the rounds in television this morning to assure Australians that while there is an ongoing crisis for its own sake (and even at times) it will be more than ever been said.
On Sky News First Edition Richard Marles, Australia’s defence minister and deputy prime minister, said ‘As we speak it is actually the same amount of fuel that has come in our country.
And, as you know, if this conflict is going on for a long time, it can clearly affect the supply of fuel to Australia.
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Considering that, we have released 20 per cent of the national stockpile [760 million litres of fuel] and targeted the areas in respect to that – places where there is the greatest need.
“What we’re asking of Australians right now is to go about their business as normal.”
When asked by Sunrise if there will be fuel rationing at this stage, he simply replied: “No.”
According to SBS, as of March 14, 2026, Australia has 29 days’ worth of petrol supply and 26 days of diesel. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has warned fuel retailers have hiked prices much earlier than expected, and there have been reports of Australians stockpiling fuel.
Mr Marles’ remarks come after the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, announced on March 12, 2026 that the government would allow for fuel to have higher sulfur levels for the next 60 days.
This would mean around 100 million litres per month of fuel, which was otherwise exported to Australia and the Australian domestic supply for this is being introduced into our home economy,’ Mr Bowen said.
Ampol Australia had vowed to ensure this additional supply would be prioritized for areas of shortage, and for the wholesale spot market which supports independent distributors and harvesters.
Mr Marles has confirmed this supply will reach petrol stations in the coming days.
When asked by Sky News if the government could guarantee Australia’s ‘non-fuelled’ Middle East conflict – which has seen Iran fire at oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz would evolve, Mr Marles said.
“We will do everything in our power to respond to this situation,” said Mr Marles.
Clearly, “But you know, if the conflict is ongoing for some time, the Straits of Hormuz are not open” that will affect the global supply chain.
I’m just not going to speculate on the future because I don’t know how long this conflict will last in the Middle East, so I can’n’T think about what it is going for. And yet we will be doing this very wisely, in a very prudent way.
Just now I repeat the same amount of gasoline is being imported in the country today, as was present before this conflict began. Paraphrast.
The Today Show also ruled out one line of questioning whether the Australian Defence Force should be recruited to deploy fuel tankers in Australia, saying it’s up to state governments for this support.
“I think the fundamental capacity to get fuel out there is going to lie with the fuel companies,” he added.
That’s where this is at, and so that’. But I don’t know if defence will make a material difference to this in the next couple of days. – ’.
Australia has only two oil refineries, and imports about 90 per cent of its oil; we are left at the mercy of global headwinds.
While the government has said it’s pulling levers to ensure fuel supply in Australia, it confirmed earlier this month it won’t cut the fuel excise even as prices rise at the pump.
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