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During an appearance on the Today Show this morning, the official assured viewers that Australia is not facing any fuel supply shortages. However, he acknowledged that a surge in demand has created “localized pressures” affecting certain areas.
These pressures are particularly felt in rural regions, where some farmers have raised concerns about having insufficient fuel to carry out their daily operations.
Host Karl Stefanovic challenged the official on whether the government’s response to the situation has been sufficient.
“What’s happened to the fuel? Are the cartels stockpiling it?” Stefanovic queried.
“Where is the fuel? Can you provide an answer to that?” he pressed further.
“You know where the fuel is, you say you’re working with industry to get that fuel on trucks, but where is it?
“There are people still waiting for it. Come on. Get your acts together.”
Chalmers insisted there were two things going on at the same time, which meant while supply was not an issue, it means there are some short term shortages, he claims.
“Overall Australia has enough fuel, the shipments are arriving, we’ve got big stockpiles,” Chalmers said.
“But we do acknowledge… that in some local communities – in particular regional communities – there have been shortages that we’ve been working with the ACCC and the industry to address that.
“The main reason for that is, even in regional areas, we’re told by the suppliers that there was enough for usual patterns of consumption, but not for the elevated levels of buying.”
Chalmers also said the government was working closely with the ACCC to combat price gouging at the petrol pumps, with the cost of fuel in some areas rising to three dollars a litre.
The government has given the ACCC more discretion to punish petrol suppliers who are caught deliberately raising the price of fuel, and have also doubled the maximum fine that can be imposed.
He admitted there were some “concerning” price increases, but assured Australians the government was taking the necessary steps to protect them.
“Our message is clear to petrol retailers, we don’t want petrol retailers doing the wrong thing by Australians, taking advantage of the situation in the Middle East,” he said.
“Doubling of fines is important, increased surveillance some of these suspicious price spikes as well.”
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