Barnaby Joyce has sounded a stark warning over Australia’s fuel security, sparking a heated on-air clash with Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek on Sunrise as public concern mounts over potential shortages.
The former Nationals leader blamed a decade of policy missteps for leaving the country dangerously exposed, especially in regional areas where, he claimed, some service stations are already running out of fuel.
‘In towns in my region, places like Manilla and Walgett, service stations are running out of fuel,’ Joyce said.
‘Transwest is finding it almost impossible to get supply. United Petroleum can’t access stock. Even in Albury last week, there was simply no fuel on offer.’
‘We don’t have to worry about panic buying – there’s no fuel to buy,’ he added.
His comments came as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East prompted fears of nationwide shortages that could persist for months, with Australia’s reliance on imported liquid fuel further exposed by global turmoil.
Joyce urged the government to ‘ditch the climate agenda, scrap the climate change department and return to practical policies focused on supply chains, not ‘trying to change the weather’.’
He declared Australia’s emergency reserves are well below international standards.
Barnaby Joyce (right) clashed with Tanya Plibersek (left) over concerns about fuel supplies
‘The International Energy Agency wants us to keep 90 days’ supply.
We’ve had about 30 to 35 days for a decade—last week just 25. In some areas, there’s simply no fuel at all. That’s the reality,’ Joyce said.
Plibersek dismissed Joyce’s warnings, accusing him of scaremongering and insisting Australia is well placed to weather international shocks.
‘We have the largest fuel stocks in 15 years, three billion litres of diesel and one and a half billion litres of petrol in reserve, and more shipments are already on the way. Panic buying is the last thing anyone should be doing.’
She highlighted the government’s move to relocate the nation’s emergency reserves to Australia, in sharp contrast, she said, to the previous Coalition government’s practice of holding reserves offshore.
‘When [Opposition Leader] Angus Taylor was energy minister, our emergency reserves were in Texas,’ Plibersek pointed out.
The exchange escalated as Joyce linked the closure of Australian refineries to emissions policies, an accusation Plibersek flatly rejected.
‘There were six refineries when the Coalition were in government – four closed under them,’ she said.
The Albanese government says that Australia has enough fuel supplies due to their policies
‘We acted to keep the final two operating. The only remaining refineries are still running because Labor stepped in.’
Joyce conceded that fuel security had been mishandled by both sides.
‘Governments over the past 10 to 15 years got it wrong, and I never supported those decisions,’ he said.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen echoed the government’s assurances, telling a Climate Action Week event that Australia maintains strong stocks and that all expected deliveries of petrol, diesel and jet fuel have arrived on schedule.
He said regional shortfalls are due to a temporary demand spike, especially for diesel, not underlying supply problems.
Bowen credited post-Ukraine crisis measures for the improved position.
‘We now keep oil stockpiles on Australian soil, not overseas,’ he said.
‘The fundamentals are strong. Australia’s in a good place to withstand external shocks.’
