A global energy supply disruption triggered by the Middle East conflict has affected travel plans in multiple countries during the Easter holiday, with Australia among the hardest hit. Fuel shortages across several regions have forced many Australians to rethink their traditional road trip plans.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the government has urged motorists planning long-distance travel to refuel in urban areas before departure, warning that fuel shortages in rural regions could disrupt journeys. At the same time, electric vehicle (EV) sales have surged across Australia and New Zealand, as rising fuel prices push consumers to consider alternative options.
Easter is typically one of the busiest travel periods in Australia. Market research firm Roy Morgan estimated that 4.5 million Australians traveled during the same period last year. However, following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, the Strait of Hormuz has effectively been blocked, disrupting global energy supplies and throwing many Easter travel plans into disarray.
Hundreds of fuel stations run dry
Australia relies on imports for around 90% of its fuel, primarily from Asian suppliers including Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea. Amid surging global oil prices, parts of the country experienced supply shortages last week, prompting authorities to reduce fuel taxes in an effort to ease price pressures.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered a rare national address on April 1, warning that fuel prices had reached historic highs and that the outlook for the coming months remained uncertain, even beyond the Easter holiday.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen stated on April 3 that, as the holiday period began, hundreds of service stations across Australia had run out of diesel, while more than 100 had no unleaded petrol available. He pointed out that most shortages are concentrated in rural and non-metropolitan areas, and motorists planning to travel over the weekend are advised to refuel in cities where possible.
On the first day of the Easter holiday, New South Wales—the country's most populous state—reported 182 stations without diesel and 48 without petrol. In Victoria, 76 stations ran out of diesel, and 37 lacked petrol. In South Australia's Riverland region, a houseboat operator said fuel shortages had disrupted business operations. Reports of verbal abuse toward station staff have also increased, as rising fuel prices fuel public frustration.
Shift toward electric vehicles
Australian consumers are increasingly turning to electric vehicles. At a Melbourne dealership operated by Chinese automaker BYD, customer traffic has surged. One customer said: "We've always been interested in EVs, but high fuel prices have finally pushed us to act." Another buyer noted: "I run a farm with 11 vehicles and high fuel consumption. I'm considering installing solar panels and purchasing EVs to reduce costs."
US automaker Tesla also reported that all available vehicles in Australia were sold out in March, reflecting strong demand.
Some Australians have opted to cancel or scale back travel plans. A 66-year-old retiree from Sydney said she and her husband decided to stay home this Easter instead of taking their usual road trip with friends, citing rising travel costs.
In neighboring New Zealand, fuel prices surged sharply in March, with petrol and diesel prices rising by over 30% and 74% respectively compared to February. Data from the New Zealand Transport Agency showed EV sales more than tripled month-on-month, jumping from 921 units in February to 3,108 in March.
(Source: Wen Wei Po)
Related News:
HK Express to raise fuel surcharges starting April amid rising oil prices
Comment