In our time…
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Uncertainty is the mood of the nation as we approach the one-month mark of the war on Iran and its widening into a regional economic war with global implications.
BACKGROUND
Our fuel crisis stems form:
- the Trump and Netanyahu regime’s attack on Iran
- Iran’s adoption of asymmetric warfare tactics in turning the situation into a global economic war by attacking the oil refining capacity of neighbouring Gulf countries - by choking 20% of the global oil supply chain the aim is to generate international pressure on the US and Israel to end the war; by preventing shipping passing through the Strait of Hormuz; by charging shipping willing to pay to pass through the Strait on paying a $2 million/ship fee, effectively turning the open sea lane into an Iranian maritime tollway.
Australia's response
Australia’s National Fuel Security Plan is a four‑level framework to manage fuel‑supply stress, while the Liquid Fuel Emergency Act 1984 is the specific federal law that allows the government to declare a national liquid‑fuel emergency and take extraordinary control measures if stocks become critically short.
- the National Fuel Security Plan sets the day‑to‑day and escalating response to a fuel crisis
- the Act sits behind it as the legal last‑resort power if a full‑scale emergency is triggered.
The four levels of the National Fuel Security Plan:
- LEVEL 1 Plan and prepare - normal operations continue and governments build readiness
- LEVEL 2 Keep Australia moving - where measures such as the extra refined fuel imports and excise cuts already introduced by the government, and public‑education campaigns are introduced
- LEVEL 3 Targeted action - introduces coordinated demand reduction and tighter stock management
- LEVEL 4 Protecting critical services - fuel is prioritised for life‑supporting services, emergency response, defence, public transport and essential infrastructure; rationing may be introduced.
WHERE TO NOW?
Australia is now operating at Level 2 of the National Fuel Security Plan. Fuel is still available. The government is urging the public only to buy what they need and avoid unnecessary trips. The states of Tasmania and Victoria have temporarily introduced free public transport to reduce private vehicle use. The Level 2 measures are preventive and largely voluntary, designed to keep the country moving without moving into emergency‑level controls.
In war, the situation changes day by and hour by hour. We are in state of uncertainly. This is the time for national unity in a crisis, not political party point scoring, scare mongering for political ends or spreading disinformation and misinformation (unverified information)
