Today, a guy filled red jerry cans at a gas station on the outskirts of Sydney’s metropolitan area. Drivers waiting in line were worried about rising prices.
After Iranian attacks on ships essentially closed the Strait of Hormuz in reaction to US-Israeli operations, people in Australia have been buying gas in a panic. This has caused gas prices to skyrocket, even though the government says shipments are arriving on time, according to AFP.
“I can drive up to 500 kilometers a week,” said Emma Futterleib, a gardener, as she filled up her diesel pickup at a gas station in Penrith, which is on the western edge of Sydney.
“It’s bad for the budget, that’s for sure.” She remarked, “I’m just trying to be careful about how much we spend on food.”
Australia depends a lot on gasoline imports from Asia, and many people are used to traveling long distances for work or fun.
Census data shows that 1.6 million people drove to work in New South Wales, which is the most populous state and home to the huge city of Sydney. Only 140,000 people took public transportation.
The price of oil went over $100 a barrel, and government data revealed that Australia had 37 days’ worth of petrol and 30 days’ worth of diesel.
But shops are charging too much, and demand has doubled as drivers stock up on gas, which has led to “real and unacceptable shortages.” Chris Bowen, the Minister of Energy, indicated this weekend that the government was working to get more energy to rural communities.
Futterleib informed our reporter that she drove an hour from a small community where farmers are anxious that a lack of diesel may hurt crops and the food supply.
“Trucks are off the road all over the country.” “Big diesels are the backbone of Australia,” she remarked.
Chris Harald stated he “had a heart attack” when he stopped to fill up after traveling 400 kilometers from the coast to Penrith to see family.
“Why has all that petroleum gone up if we still have some in the country? He informed our reporter after filling up with fuel, “It’s disappointing to see.”
A price placard nearby said that the cheapest type of gas had run out for the day.
Fuel Watch says that the average price of gas in New South Wales has gone up from AU$1.60 ($1.12) a liter a month ago to AU$2.23.
The price of diesel has gone up to an average of AU$2.62.
Hussein Dia, a professor of transport technology at Swinburne University of Technology, warned that “panic buying is a big problem.”
“It’s worse in rural regions. He told our reporter, “They are running out of diesel and fuel.”
Mohammad Afzali, an air conditioner mechanic who fills up his van every two days as he drives to customers, said his gas costs have doubled.
Afzali claims the pinch is so tight that he is thinking about closing his firm because of it.
“It’s really hard. Afzali said, “Everything costs so much.”
“What should I do if prices keep going up?”
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