Federal politics: PM says he’s in contact with South-East Asian partners over fuel security — a…

Explore the latest developments concerning Federal politics: PM.

Federal politics: PM says he's in contact with South-East Asian partners over fuel security — as it happened

The prime minister says he is in contact with South-East Asian partners over fuel security as the war in the Middle East continues.

Meanwhile, the Coalition has called for the federal government to slash the fuel excise and road user charge to alleviate the cost of petrol prices for consumers.

And that's where we'll have to leave our federal politics live coverage for today and this week. Thank you for joining us!

You can look back on today's developments, below, or download the ABC News app and subscribe to our range of news alerts for the latest updates.

We'll see you again next week for another sitting week here on Capital Hill!

Australian petrol stations report 25% surge in demand as governments plan for ‘biggest energy crisis in history’

Rationing is not under consideration yet as hundreds of retailers report being without one or more types of fuel

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Petrol stations are reporting a surge in demand of up to 25% in the past fortnight alone on top of already major spikes earlier in the Iran war as Anthony Albanese comes under pressure to devise a national plan to cushion Australia against the “biggest energy crisis in history”.

The Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association has revealed the scale of the demand on retailers, which has left hundreds of stations across the country without one or more types of fuel.

Albanese’s next step must address the fuel crisis and assure the public

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Rule No.1 in politics is that leaders should always project capability and certainty, even in the most uncertain times. When COVID-19 reached our shores, public anxiety about lockdowns and supply chains resulted in consumers stockpiling toilet paper, pasta, meat, baby formula and paracetamol.

The pandemic was a global event, its causes and effects ranging far beyond the capabilities of any single nation’s leadership to control. At that point, the power of federal and state governments to reassure became particularly important.

The decision of the United States and Israel to wage war on Iran, and Iran’s decision to restrict tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation, have already hit our economy hard, despite Australia having had no input into either one (though perhaps Prime Minister Anthony Albanese might have hoped for some sort of warning from our closest security ally of its intentions).

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