Tasmanian Nationals chairman Rick Mandelson is urging regional Australians to report fuel shortages through a National Party website as the country grapples with rising prices.
The website, nofuelhere.com.au, allows users to log shortages at their local service stations, with reports sent to local Nationals, Liberal and LNP representatives.
Mandelson said the data would give MPs and senators a clearer picture of where shortages were being felt most.
“Regional Australians don’t have the luxury of jumping on a bus or working from inside the home,” he said.
“Fuel is how we get to work, how we get our kids to school, how our businesses and farms keep running.”
“When the pumps are empty, our communities grind to a halt.”
He said the federal government’s response had not gone far enough for regional communities.
“The Albanese government says there’s no shortage, just a distribution problem,” he said.
“That is cold comfort if you’re in Longford and the only local servo is out of unleaded or diesel.”
Diesel prices have climbed above $3 a litre nationally.
The ACCC reported average diesel in the five largest cities reached 303.5 cents per litre last week, up 27.8 cents in seven days.
Regional prices averaged 307.6 cents per litre.
The federal government on Saturday announced measures to underwrite private companies purchasing fuel shipments amid global uncertainty linked to the Middle East conflict.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said parliament would consider the measures on Monday.
He said six of 81 fuel cargo ships scheduled for April had cancelled, but replacements had been secured.
“We’re working to get more fuel to Australia, but we’re also working on distribution to get it to where it needs to go,” he said.
Australia imports around 90 per cent of its refined fuel and is the only International Energy Agency member country that does not hold the mandatory 90-day fuel reserve.
