NSW launches fuel crisis team: 'Action has to be taken'
- Chris Minns convenes fuel crisis team
- They will look at supply in NSW
- READ MORE: The insane price Australians will soon be paying for petrol
NSW has launched a crisis team to monitor impacts on fuel supplies in the wake of the Middle East crisis.
Some petrol stations in regional Australia have run dry, while others have resorted to limiting drivers to only $20 worth of fuel.
There has also been panic buying in capital cities across the country.
NSW Premier Chris Minns announced on Thursday morning that his government had organised key officials to discuss fuel supply requirements.
'Some of our big hospitals, as well as emergency services, need access to diesel and fuel sources. It's critically important that they have access to it,' he told reporters.
'(We have) convened the Department of Energy, transport, emergency services and police to look at supplies and critical services in NSW in the weeks and months ahead.
'I want to assure the public that, notwithstanding the conflict in the Middle East, NSW's essential services are making preparations today for any eventuality.'
Concerns over Australia's fuel security have surged since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, with fears regional petrol stations could run out of E10 and unleaded within days.
NSW has launched a crisis team to monitor impacts on fuel in the wake of the Middle East crisis
NSW Premier Chris Minns (pictured) has called for 'common sense' as drivers have rushed to fill up their vehicles in the last week
The war effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz - the gateway for about 20 per cent of global gas and oil shipping - leaving tankers idle for more than a week and forcing producers to halt pumping while storage cleared.
In the last week, major oil companies have stopped supplying petrol to non-contracted fuel distributors, many of which supply agricultural communities.
With tensions rising, Australians have been seen queuing to fill up their vehicles at petrol stations and buying jerry cans to stockpile fuel.
Minns called on motorists to use 'common sense' when getting fuel for their vehicles.
'Don't take more than you need, because we are seeing supply shortages as a result of people buying excess fuel that they perhaps don't need,' he said.
'Now I appreciate that it's a stressful time. This conflict is resulting in critical fuel shortages, not just in Australia, but in every part of the world.
'But we need to make sure that we're using common sense here in Australia and that people are buying fuel, but only what's required.
'Otherwise, unfortunately, you'll be taking it from your neighbour or a family member when they may need it in the days and weeks ahead.'
Despite alarm among Australians, Minister for Industry and Innovation Tim Ayres doubled down on the Labor government line , stating that national fuel reserves have 'not fundamentally changed' since the conflict began.
'We have 36 days of petrol, so that's 1.56billion litres of petrol. In jet fuel terms, 29 days or 802million litres of jet fuel,' he told ABC South Australia this week.
'32 days of diesel, about 2.97billion litres of diesel are held either onshore or within our exclusive economic zone. Roughly 80 per cent onshore.'
