Some independent petrol stations say they have completely run out of fuel as regional shortage worsens
Updated . First published at
Some independent petrol stations in regional Australia say they are now fresh out of fuel despite government assurances that there is no shortage, as wholesalers drastically ration supply and farmers reach crisis point.
The flow-on impact of motorists panic-buying petrol saw some regional independent retailers quickly run out of E10 and unleaded, and Transwest Fuels co-owner Sam Clifton said his supply of diesel has now dried up in NSW and Queensland too.
Clifton blamed the federal government for not stepping in and forcing petroleum and diesel giants to evenly distribute fuel as tensions rise over whether it is a supply or demand issue.
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Independent petrol stations in regional Australia, including Transwest Fuels, are now fresh out of petrol and diesel. Transwest Fuels
"The big guys are holding back, there's plenty of fuel there," Clifton told Nine.com.au.
"There's 30, 40 million litres sitting at some of the terminals, but the gates are closed."
Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth have both denied there is a shortage and said there was enough stock of petrol, diesel and jet fuel.
"We have more fuel in this country than in the last 15 years," Rishworth earlier said on Today.
Bowen said the issue was a "spike in extra orders".
"And inevitably, when you're seeing a huge increase in demand, they're [industry] having trouble keeping up with that," he said.
Clifton echoed former Nationals leader David Littleproud's call for the government to "unlock" the fuel being held back and solve the crisis that is smashing regional Australia.
"If they just left it alone, everything would be flowing as normal."
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Panic-buying at the bowser has contributed to a regional shortage of petrol and diesel. Eamon Gallagher
Clifton yesterday warned that Transwest Fuels retailers, based in Tamworth, had some diesel left but that it wouldn't last long.
He said there is now "absolutely nothing" left at his bowsers.
"No diesel, no petrols at all," he said.
"We have our own trucks and we run to the port, so we've stood all drivers down for tomorrow.
"If we can't get any access to anything on Thursday or Friday, then we're looking to shut our whole service station network down."
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Transwest Fuels used its own trucks travel to Brisbane and Newcastle to collect fuel. Instagram/@transwest_fuels
Australia only has two oil refineries in Brisbane and in Newcastle, which supply around 20 per cent of the country's liquid fuel demand.
Building regional refineries – an expensive infrastructure – has been suggested as a way to protect local communities and ease the supply pressure.
"We need more of them. There should be one in each capital city or outside each capital city," Clifton said.
It would then give us a buffer. The government will say they're too expensive.
"But it doesn't matter how expensive it is because if the money stays in Australia, it gets spent here."
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