NSW Premier Chris Minns has called for a “Covid-style” national response to Australia’s fuel crisis to allow for rationing and work from home requirements.
Mr Minns made the comments on Tuesday while pushing back at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s suggestion that the states should implement their own measures to deal with fuel shortages, and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has also called for the Commonwealth to lead the response.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen confirmed in parliament that hundreds of petrol stations nationwide were running dry, including 164 in NSW without diesel, and another 290 in total without at least one type of fuel.
“In Queensland, the figure is 55 with no diesel, and 35 no regular unleaded. In Victoria, the figure is 162 with one or more grades unavailable,” he said.
“In Western Australia, I’m advised, it’s six. In Tasmania, it is one with no diesel and six with no unleaded.”
Mr Minns told state parliament: “We need a nationally consistent approach if and when the time comes when we need to introduce those demand management, a clear signal of what might be to come.
“We’ll be prosecuting with the Commonwealth Government and the other states, and that is that if demand management procedures are required, that might be rationing, that might be working from home, it might be other programs or remedies that we can introduce into the marketplace … it should be a nationally consistent approach.”
Ms Allan also said there should be a “nationally co-ordinated approach”.
“Should there be additional measures that need to be taken to manage supply … it is my view that that is something that does need to be co-ordinated through that national cabinet,” she said.
With fuel stations running dry across Australia and farmers warning of empty supermarket shelves from diesel shortages, I get a distinct feeling of COVID déjà vu.
Could we soon see COVID-style government interventions: movement restrictions, rationing, and lockdowns to ‘manage’… pic.twitter.com/ZAW0ANF58V
— Senator Alex Antic (@SenatorAntic) March 24, 2026
Liberal Senator Alex Antic also said on Tuesday that he was getting a “distinct feeling of COVID deja vu”.
“Could we soon see COVID-style government interventions: movement restrictions, rationing, and lockdowns to ‘manage’ the crisis? No surely that’s just another ‘conspiracy theory’!” he said.
The Albanese government warned on Monday it could not rule out fuel prices hitting $4 a litre due to US-Israel strikes on Iran that have led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, impacting 20% of the world’s oil supply.
“I can’t speculate on what’s going to happen with prices, but obviously, the longer the conflict goes on, the more potential it has to restrict supplies and push up prices,” Assistant Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Matt Thistlewaite said when asked about the $4 mark.
“This conflict is having an effect, and the longer that it goes on, the more destabilising it could be.”
Header image: Left, Chris Minns. Right, a petrol station out of fuel (supplied).
