Normally the biggest worry grey nomads have over the Easter holiday period is finding a reasonably quiet place to camp but, this year, the issue of fuel prices and fuel availability is top of mind.
While Australians are being urged to avoid panic buying, an update from Energy Minister Chris Bowen has revealed that some fuel stations are indeed running out of petrol.
Mr Bowen said that, in New South Wales,182 fuel stations are currently without diesel, 48 ‘totally out of stock’. In Queensland, there are 75 stations out of diesel with 24 out of unleaded petrol. In Victoria, 76 stations don’t have any diesel and 37 are out of unleaded petrol. Western Australia has 37 stations out of diesel, while 58 are out of unleaded petrol. South Australia has 28 stations out of diesel, and 15 out of unleaded petrol. Tasmania has seven stations out of unleaded petrol and seven out of diesel. The Northern Territory has five stations out of diesel and four out of unleaded petrol.
Nightmare scenario! Some petrol stations are running out of fuel. PIC: Cizza
For grey nomads and other long-term travellers, of course, the uncertainty is the real issue.
The conflict in the Middle East shows every sign of continuing for some time yet and no one really knows what its long-term implications will be.
A national address by President Donald Trump in the US earlier this week did not provide as much clarity as many had hoped, and financial markets reacted accordingly … with oil prices soaring and share prices falling.
While cuts to fuel excise here have reduced costs at the bowser a little, there is simply no clear picture of what the future might hold.
For grey nomads, the whole situation presents a conundrum not dissimilar to the early days of the Covid crisis. And those travellers that can recall being trapped in faraway spots as state borders abruptly closed back in 2020 are understandably wary as this crisis unfolds.
While most travellers aren’t thrilled about the idea of their budgets being blown out by surging fuel prices, it is the fear of supplies running out and them being stuck somewhere that is really giving them pause as they plot their travels.
While some are cancelling and postponing, many others are just choosing to stay in one place longer and wait to ‘see what happens’.
* Are you optimistic that the fuel situation will improve in the next month or so? Comment below.
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At this stage looking at tankers heading to and from Oz we are still planning to leave in early May from Victoriastan to the Kimberly via the Goldfields , there is a ship equivalent of Flight Radar for those in the know and I’m seeing plenty of tankers heading back and forth from and to Oz .
I also happen to know some servos run out because of management incompetence (Didn’t order fuel when stocks were down) and the odd few because of panic buying but from what I’ve seen this is or was rare .
This time of year farmers are putting in crops and not all get fuel delivered they just take the ute to the local servo and fill up a heap of Jerry cans / fuel containers etc because the fuel is cheaper that way . Oz has heaps of oil under ground and lots of areas that were discovered the wells have been capped awaiting extraction .
Travellers need to be practical, travel less, look for good locations to stop for longer periods, support local businesses, can conserve fuel for all those that need it more, have some empathy for those in real need, thanks
We will be staying home if this keeps up, it’s not worth the stress.
That’s the most sensible thing to do, we’ll be doing the same.
We’ll enjoy staying home beachside until thing become clearer.
We’ve been retired for 15 years & travelled 180,000 kms so we’re not desperate to get away.
The current Govt should realise, diesel is the first fuel out of the “cracker”, so why the higher price? I used to refuel aircraft in the Navy, so have a working knowledge of the situation! The Govt should have instigated “no drums” when the panic settled in! Secondly, a limit of 40L would help most drivers, but, odds & evens worked back in the 90’s with the Iraq war! The pollie’s use our taxpayers funded Govt fleet, to go to their appointments, shopping, parties & etc, I spent 5 years total in Canberra when stationed there, even my late Federal member agreed with me when I demobbed!
Old John.
Great reply john SPOT ON
Go onto Marine Live app or website and type in crude oil as search. You’ll see thousands of red ship, crude carriers moving through the Strait of Hormuz and everywhere around the world. You might be very surprised at the amount of red carriers in and around Australia coming and going. I spoke to several fuel suppliers that were filling up tanks who said there is no shortage, we are being lied to.