Anthony Albanese’s huge plan as fuel crisis drags on – amid major cost blow for millions

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called a second national cabinet meeting to discuss new emergency measures to tackle the ongoing fuel crisis.

Public transport discounts, voluntary WFH and carpooling are among the proposed measures set to be discussed by state and territory premiers next Monday.

Albanese said it was ‘important we have national consistency’ when addressing the fuel crisis.

‘I intend convening again the national cabinet next week to further co-ordinate the activity that we are taking,’ he said.

It’s understood the idea rationing fuel supplies is not on the table, with Albanese previously suggesting that it was a matter for the states.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has called on the federal government to be more transparent about where the fuel blockages are ahead of next week’s cabinet meeting.

‘We need information to flow and fuel to fill tanks in every part of our state,’ the Premier told parliament on Wednesday.

NSW counterpart Chris Minns agreed that a nationally consistent approach was required.

Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox called on the federal government to ‘lay every option on the table’.

‘These options should include a possible cut to fuel excise, consideration of structured fuel rationing, and discounted public transport fares,’ he said.

‘Employers are already reporting an increase in absenteeism among workers … in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, retail, and care.’

It comes after South Korea unveiled drastic measures by encouraging people to slash shower times, charge phones and electric vehicles during the day and only use vacuum cleaners and washing machines on weekends.

Hospitality operators will consider imposing a a five per cent surcharge on customers as transport and delivery costs soar during the ongoing fuel crisis.

The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association has urged businesses to introduce a temporary surcharge on all meals, including takeaways.

The proposed levy would see an extra $5 added to the bill for every $100 spent.

Australia’s fuel shortage is worsening with 500 service stations across Australia now out of one form of fuel.

‘Fuel touches everything in hospitality – every delivery, every supplier, every ingredient and every collection truck that pulls up behind a venue,’ ARCA chief executive Wes Lambert told the Herald Sun.

‘This is happening rapidly as petrol stations around Victoria, NSW begin to run out of diesel … what we’re hearing from restaurants and cafes and some pubs around the country is they are now being hit with a fuel surcharge

‘If government won’t stabilise costs, businesses must be allowed to survive them.’

Mr Lambert stressed that the proposed levy would only be temporary and warned that hospitality operators would otherwise shut down without ‘practical relief.’

Celebrity chef Shane Delia is among the industry leaders who backed the move.

‘The fact of the matter is that as an industry we absorb the bottom of the food chain all the time and we find it really hard to pass on anything,’ he said.

Delia conceded that the proposal will only work unless the industry as a whole joined forces an came on board.

While Australian motorists continue to struggle amid an ongoing fuel crisis, Chinese drivers are enjoying the benefits of largely perfected electric-powered cars.

American journalist Jason Smith shared a video from China on Sunday showing off the country’s ‘fast charging stations’ which he claimed could fully charge an electric vehicle in under ten minutes.

‘Fully charged within 9 minutes, with a range of 600km,’ Smith captioned the video.

‘There is no oil crisis in China.

‘Many of these are roadside, and powered directly by on site solar panels.’

An Aussie truck driver has admitted dealing drugs to put diesel in his tank amid the nation’s fuel crisis, as others warn crippling supply chain chaos is just weeks away.

At Eastern Creek Truck Stop, one of Sydney‘s busiest freight stops, drivers told the Daily Mail the fuel squeeze is no longer a looming threat, but a rapidly unfolding emergency, putting supermarket supplies and vital deliveries like medications at risk.

One driver said he was down to his last drops of fuel with no money to fill up – and said he had no choice but to sell drugs just to keep his truck moving.

But the truckie – who asked to remain anonymous – said he’s not the only driver now selling drugs to make ends meet.

Australians have been warned to brace for ‘Armageddon’ at the supermarkets, with prices set to soar and shelves to be stripped bare as soon as mid-April.

The nation’s escalating fuel crisis is threatening to choke supply chains and disrupt deliveries nationwide as the Middle East crisis drags on.

Transport operators have warned the situation is deteriorating rapidly, with some revealing fuel bills have skyrocketed by as much as 70 per cent.

Daily Mail senior reporter Stephen Gibbs outlines the price hikes in the video below.

Shoppers are being warned to brace for inevitable price hikes with supply chains facing major oil disruptions as the conflict in Iran drags on.

It was no longer a question of if, but when, higher costs will flow through to consumers, supply chain management and logistics expert Elizabeth Jackson said.

‘Every kilojoule of food that comes from an Australian farm is moved by a diesel-powered vehicle,’ Dr Jackson told AAP.

‘Even the most basic of foods – fresh fruit and vegetables that don’t go through any sort of processing – right through to the most processed exported foods, are dependent upon transport systems.

‘They are also dependent upon diesel for their manufacture in terms of mechanisation that goes into food production, like tractors.’

Price rises are likely to begin with fresh produce because of its short supply chains and constant need for transport.

Increases were possible within two to three weeks with a ‘slow burn’ most likely rather than one sudden spike.

‘The fresher the produce, the quicker we’re going to see the prices increase,’ Dr Jackson said.