The Federal Government has launched a $20 million campaign to raise awareness of Australia’s National Fuel Security Plan.
It comes weeks after the country moved to level two of the four-tier plan, amid ongoing global oil and gas disruptions linked to escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The campaign urges motorists to adopt “simple, practical behaviours” to reduce fuel use and help prioritise supply for essential services.
The Coalition has criticised the campaign, calling it “a complete waste of taxpayers’ money” that could have been used to secure additional diesel.
Fuel plan
Following U.S. and Israeli strikes in February, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz – a key global oil and gas shipping route.
In response to fuel disruptions, the Government announced a four-level fuel security plan last month.
Australia is currently at Level 2, meaning international fuel shipments are still arriving, but domestic supply pressures are beginning to emerge.
The ad
The new campaign features the tagline “Every little bit helps”, encouraging motorists to cut fuel use and ensure supply remains available for essential services.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told ABC News Breakfast that the ad was a “modest campaign” aimed at countering misinformation that has fuelled panic buying.
Speaking on ABC’s Insiders program, Transport Minister Catherine King also said that amid the growing “anxiety”, the messaging is designed to help people feel informed and prepared “the longer this goes on.”
Opposition
Shadow Infrastructure and Transport Minister Bridget McKenzie has criticised the initiative, calling it “a complete waste of taxpayers’ money.”
In a statement to TDA, she said the $20 million should have been “spent getting the diesel to where it needs to be,” rather than on “pointless and offensive advertising campaigns.”
“Suddenly we are being lectured to pump up the tyres and take the roof racks off to save every little bit of fuel… Australians are highly sensitive to sharply rising fuel prices and are responding accordingly,” she added.
NRMA
Peak motoring body NRMA has backed the campaign.
NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said the messaging is “entirely consistent with what we’ve been saying throughout this crisis.”
He added: “If this gets some people thinking about how they can reduce their fuel consumption, it’s good for their budgets and it’s also good for the Australian supply chain.”
