As the conflict in the Middle East grinds on, even the most optimistic of grey nomads are being forced to consider what effect the growing fuel crisis will have on their trips … and what they should do next.
Hundreds of service stations around the country have already run out of fuel and, while the Federal Government says there is no immediate prospect of fuel rationing, it says it has undertaken ‘prudent contingency planning’.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen told Parliament on Tuesday that there were 164 petrol stations in NSW without diesel and 290 without at least one type of fuel; in Queensland, there were 55 with no diesel and 35 with no regular unleaded; in Victoria, there were 162 with one or more grades unavailable. The situation was said to be less severe in the other states and territories, but the situation is changing rapidly.
'Hooray, fuel is available ... uh,oh ... look how much it costs!' PIC: Cizza
And when fuel is available, there is the not so small matter of its cost. For travellers on tight budgets, the surging cost of filling up at the bowser is certainly making them rethink how and – in some cases ‘if’ – they travel.
Many grey nomads currently out in remote areas lived through the trauma of being ‘stranded’ by Covid restrictions six years or so ago… and they are understandably wary about how quickly the current situation could unravel.
Of course, the Covid crisis was notable for the very different approaches taken by the various jurisdictions across Australia. However, NSW Premier, Chirs Minns, says he doesn’t want to see that happen again.
“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,’’ he said. “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.”
In the meantime, grey nomads are being forced to make their own assessments about what the best approach for them is from here.
“At present it doesn’t look like we will be making our annual trip north to Townsville,” said one anxious correspondent to the Grey Nomads website. “The cost and uncertainty of diesel supplies is worrying to us.”
Most others were being equally cautious.
“We have been planning to travel from Newcastle to Cape York but with the price and availability of fuel we’re thinking of putting it off until next year,” said another correspondent.
Of course, grey nomads generally have the benefit of having more relaxed and flexible schedules than most … and that good fortune was not lost on many.
Mal M was planning a trip from Adelaide to Canberra and around NSW in April, but says that adventure is now off the table.
“Not travelling doesn’t really worry us too much though,” he said. “I think if you don’t need to travel or move then don’t … farmers and truckies need the fuel far more than us just wandering around our beautiful country, it will still be there when things hopefully get back to normal.”
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I have scrapped plans of returning to northern Victoria because of fuel.
I would have been volunteering in a BlazeAid camp helping with bushfire recovery, But I have to be back in Sydney for Easter, so can’t risk getting caught without fuel.
We are i outback NSW with various places to go until the end of April where we were off to SA. But will now head home to Brisbane at the end of April. We are also moving around a lot less to conserve.
This is evidence of the stupidity and selfishness of Australians. So far all fuel scheduled to come has come. The root cause of the “shortage” is greedy Australians filling Jerry cans etc and hoarding fuel. In one case people filled a water storage tank with fuel. You cannot buy a Jerry can is Australia. The cause is selfishness.
We are planning to travel from Tassie to QLD from July – Oct but we aren’t sure if we should cancel. We need to make a decision by May/ early June because we need to cancel our ferry trips. It’s our first big journey as we have been retired for 12 months and we have been planning it for ages but should we cancel and plan for 2027 instead? Fuel costs/availability is a big factor and obviously we support it going where it’s most needed which isn’t for wandering around on holidays in a challenging time
A friend of mine works at a rural fuel station in SA and has said the worst for hoarding fuel and complaining has been the grey nomads to which she tells them to go home and park your vans. Farmers in the area can’t even get their own fuel deliveries and yet people selfishly keep touring around and using up the fuel better used for primary produces and truckies.
One moment everyone in the bush wants and welcomes travellers to support business’s, the next they’re complaining about them using a meaningless amount of fuel to do their 200k’s per day ( but usually less).
It should be remembered, that If the hundreds of thousands of travellers that visited country Australia each year didn’t, then services (and profits) in the bush would plummit,
Oh and I live in country QLD! , started work when I was 13 and was driving trucks at 16.
I’m now 71 and cruise the bush in my 34 yr old van towed by my 17yr old ute at 80k’s and I love it!
I know how to let trucks slip around me! I don’t compete with them, ‘really’ do you think you’re going to win?
I laugh my tits off when I see effy’s, Ram’s, Hiluxes etc, towing 3 ton vans, roar past me at 100 plus k’s, then complain about the cost and/or scarcity of fuel.
The hysteria re fuel shortage (actually there isn’t one, just the usual federal government and fuel company’s scare tactics to maximise income, and we would all do it! so don’t get all high brow, kids! ).
The upside of fuel shortages are;
1. Transport/travel technology increases!
2. Some people slow down (and marvel at how much more relaxing it is).
3. You actually save money! Because;
A. You use less fuel.
B.You can extend your service intervals.
C. Your tyres (on tow vehicle and van) last longer.
D. If you hit something or something hits you, simple physics says the hit will be smaller, (to the rig therefore pocket).
Be nice, marvel at our country.