Friday, 29 Mar 2024

Morrison government yet to release 2019 report on vulnerability of Australia’s fuel supplies

Morrison government yet to release 2019 report on vulnerability of Australia’s fuel supplies


Morrison government yet to release 2019 report on vulnerability of Australia’s fuel supplies

The Morrison government has sat on a report addressing the vulnerability of Australia's fuel supplies for two years, with concern mounting that its findings could stay secret for 20 years if they are not released before the election and the Coalition loses.

The Liquid Fuel Security Review's final report was presented to the government at the end of 2019. An interim report in April of that year found Australia had just 18 days' worth of petrol and 22 for diesel in storage - well short of an agreement with the International Energy Agency to hold the equivalent of 90 days of imports.

Australians have been reminded of the risk of supply interruptions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The war and subsequent sanctions against Russia have sent local fuel prices soaring by at least a quarter to well beyond $2 a litre in much of Australia.

Russia supplies just 1.5% of Australia's oil imports but an immediate import ban could have caused "potential fuel shortages", said Viva Energy, one of the country's two remaining oil refiners that was waiting for two shipments to land. The government gave Viva and Ampol, the other refiner, 45 days' grace before the ban kicked in.

Similarly, the shortage of a diesel additive late last year after China banned urea exports threatened to cripple the trucking industry.

South Australian senator Rex Patrick, whose freedom of information request to make the final fuel security report public was rejected in 2020, believes the government "never intended to release it".

Instead, "there's been a hodgepodge of incoherent measures that have gone nowhere near our national security obligation and our international agreement", Patrick said.

you may also like

Resort Casinos Likely Scuttled Under Amended Bermuda Legislation
  • by travelpulse
  • descember 09, 2016
Resort Casinos Likely Scuttled Under Amended Bermuda Legislation

Premier announces changes to long-delayed project

read more