The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to release up to 20 per cent of domestic fuel reserves to address petrol and diesel shortages in regional areas.
The Government said it will reduce what is called the baseline minimum stockholding obligation so fuel companies can release up to 762 million litres of petrol and diesel.
Companies will only be allowed to relax their storage obligations if they are:
- Taking steps to prioritise supply to regional customers, with a focus for supply to regional, agricultural and maritime customers experiencing supply shortages
- Taking steps to allocate reasonable additional supply to bulk customers such as independent regional distributors
- Providing the volumes needed to help meet usual demand, not to provide uncontracted distributors or customers seeking to profit from global price spikes, panic purchasing or stockpiling with above normal quantities of fuel.
“In our meetings with ministers this week, the ATA urged the Government to to keep Australians up to date about our fuel stocks and to address the regional supply issues that are occurring,” ATA CEO, Mathew Munro, said.
“These shortages are due to high demand, not to a lack of fuel in Australia. Fuel shipments are continuing to arrive.
“Coupled with the Government’s commitment to release fuel supply information to the market weekly, today’s announcement will help make sure that regional trucking businesses have the fuel they normally use to keep freight moving.”
The announcement represents Australia’s contribution to the decision by International Energy Agency member countries to release 400 million barrels of oil from their emergency reserves to the global market. It is the largest emergency release of fuel in history.
“At a meeting of our member association CEOs today, it was agreed that the ATA will collate and provide the Government with a list of regional areas where freight transporters are experiencing supply issues,” Munro said.
The ATA will provide the Federal Government with a list of regional areas where there are fuel shortages.
Companies which are experiencing fuel shortages in their areas can email the ATA at ata@truck.net.au.
Meanwhile, the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) has welcomed the Victorian Government’s measures to stop petrol price gouging, describing the daily fuel price cap as a sensible and timely reform that will support transport operators and the wider community during a period of heightened cost pressures.
VTA CEO, Peter Anderson, said the new rules – requiring fuel retailers to set and publish a capped daily price – will help restore fairness and transparency at the bowser for the transport industry, which relies on predictable fuel costs to maintain safe, reliable and viable operations.
“Fuel is one of the single biggest cost inputs for freight and logistics operators. Sudden and excessive retail price spikes don’t just hurt transport businesses – they flow directly through to the cost of moving goods, and ultimately to Victorian families,” he said.
“We commend the Government for stepping in to prevent opportunistic price gouging, especially at a time when global instability is already placing upward pressure on fuel markets.”
Anderson also reinforced an important message for consumers and businesses: now is not the time for stockpiling or panic buying.
“Fuel security relies on steady, predictable demand. Panic buying only strains supply chains unnecessarily and creates the very shortages people fear,” he said.
He said the new cap is a constructive step toward keeping the fuel market fair, especially when global shocks and international volatility often impact Australia first.
“Anything that smooths volatility and improves transparency helps the freight industry stay safe, efficient and viable.”
The VTA looks forward to working with the Government as these reforms roll out and continues to advocate for long‑term fuel security measures that support a resilient transport network.
In other news, Don Watson Transport’s signature rig to be auctioned.
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