Overview
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a National Press Club speech on Thursday, announced $1 billion in interest‑free loans for fuel‑hit truckers, freight operators, and fuel and fertiliser producers.
- The government said temporary fuel excise savings now total 32 cents per litre after laws were signed on Thursday, with the aim of easing prices at the bowser.
- Following Wednesday night’s rare national address, the government kept measures to voluntary conservation and urged normal fill‑ups and more public transport use, as energy experts said rationing was not on the cards right after Easter.
- Senior government sources reported onshore stocks of roughly 38 days of petrol and 30 days of diesel and said replacement shipments have been secured, making supply likely through early May.
- Western Australia invoked emergency powers to force fuel companies to share supply‑chain data to target local outages, as opposition figures pressed for clearer national reporting on stocks and deliveries.