'Forced to car pool': What does fuel rationing actually look like?

Fuel rationing has been signalled as the potential final phase of the federal government's national fuel security plan if the conflict in Iran interrupts supply any further.

Australia has faced fuel rationing in the past: During World War II and briefly in 1979 after the Iranian-revolution triggered a global oil crisis.

But what does it actually look like?

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The petrol shortage in 1979 was exacerbated by a strike at the Caltex Kurnell oil refinery in Sydney.

It resulted in a deluge of panic-buying, not unlike the scenes that unfolded across Australia after the Strait of Hormuz was blocked in early March.

Limited fuel rationing was quickly introduced by the Fraser government.

The most severe impacts were felt in NSW, however odd-even number plate rationing was introduced around the country.

It means cars with license plates ending in odd numbers could only fill up on odd -numbered calendar dates, and vice versa.

Purchase limits were also enforced at many independent fuel stations.

Daryl George, who lived in the small Victorian town of Nathalia, was aged 10 at the time and told Nine.com.au he remembers the 1979 fuel shortage like it was yesterday.

"At the time, we my mum and dad) drove a 1963 Chevy Impala V8, I do remember the odds and even system, to know what day you would be able to access fuel," he recalled.

"As a 10-year-old, I was the designated fuel filler. $20 would fill the tank."

George said his family kept a healthy stock of fuel on the farm and was largely insulated from the shortage.

"My father had 44-gallon fuel drums at our town home so we were well protected from the crisis to a extent... but those who couldn't store fuel did have to comply to the odds and even restrictions," he added.

"A lot of families traded their large cars for [ones that were] smaller and more economical on fuel.

"Unfortunately public transport in that time in the country was not available, but car pooling to school did happen."

The emergency rationing lasted only several weeks before the industrial action ended and supply slowly returned to normal rates.

Do you have a story? Contact reporter April Glover at april.glover@nine.com.au

Fuel rationing in Jordan

More recently in the 1990s, countries in the Middle East suffered through an conflict-based oil crisis.

Melbourne academic Hussein Dia grew up in Jordan and lived through stringent fuel rationing and government mandates.

Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent UN sanctions on Iraqi trade triggered a crippling oil shortage in Jordan, which relies almost entirely on imported crude oil.

Dia said it was easy for the government to swiftly impose a rationing system on residents and that everyone who owned a car had to comply.

"We were essentially forced to car pool," Dia, a Professor of Transport Technology and Sustainability at Swinburne University, told Nine.com.au.

"We used to go around and pick each other up while going to work.

"It was restrictive."

Dia said the Jordanian government "acted quickly" to cushion the abrupt oil embargo, with mandates aimed to drop fuel consumption in the country by 20 per cent.

Rationing was enforced through an odd-even number plate method, where only certain cars could fill up on each day.

The government work week was dropped from six days to five.

Stores, businesses, restaurants and commercial establishments had mandatory closing times and government vehicles were not allowed on the roads except during working hours.

"It was easy to enforce, actually, because there were police on the side of the road," Dia recalled.

"They would see that today is 16th, and only even numbered license plates are allowed, and if someone is doing the wrong thing, they used to stop the car, take the keys.

"It was difficult but manageable."

Dia said his collegues, friends and family carpooled for three months while the restrictions were in place.

The rationing was gradually phased out in early 1991 as the energy crisis eased.

The Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz stoked fears that similar measures may be enforced in Australia as the price of fuel skyrocketed and shortages gripped communities around the country.

Rationing has been flagged as a last resort – described as phase four of the federal government's plan.

Dia said that Australia is "not there yet".

"I think the government is doing everything to prevent us from getting to that stage," he said.

"But it is on the agenda, it is the final step. It's a very realistic possibility.

"It's not gonna be easy for them to trigger that final step, but it is something on the agenda, absolutely."

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Shipments of oil are now on the way to Australia after the government moved to shore up supply flowing into the country.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen last week said he was satisfied with the current stocks and that "we are a long way" from fuel rationing.

"I'm pleased with the supply into Australia at this point," Bowen said.

"Work continues on prudent contingency of planning.

"Should the international situation get worse, [the fuel security plan] makes clear prioritisation for emergency services."

Australia is now at stage two of the fuel plan, which included new powers to underwrite fuel shipments to increase supply and a government campaign encouraging Australians to take public transport.

Stage three would involve voluntary fuel measures such as car pooling.

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