Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles has declined to rule out the possibility of fuel rationing as escalating tensions in the Middle East threaten global energy supply chains. The crisis centres on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint through which roughly one-third of the world's seaborne oil passes, with disruptions now sending shockwaves through international fuel markets.
United States President Donald Trump has publicly criticised allied nations for what he describes as insufficient contributions to securing the strategic waterway, adding diplomatic pressure to an already volatile situation. Australia imports more than 90 per cent of its refined fuel, with national reserves historically sitting at fewer than 30 days of supply, making the country acutely vulnerable to any sustained disruption in global shipping routes.
The Strait of Hormuz has long been identified as one of the most significant vulnerabilities in Australia's energy security framework. Successive federal governments have faced criticism for failing to build adequate domestic refining capacity or strategic fuel reserves, with the number of Australian refineries declining from eight in the early 2000s to just two operating facilities today.
Marles told reporters that the government was monitoring the situation closely and working with international partners to ensure supply continuity, but he stopped short of guaranteeing that rationing measures would not be necessary. Opposition energy spokesperson Ted O'Brien accused the Albanese government of leaving Australia exposed by failing to act on fuel security recommendations made over the past decade.
The federal government is expected to convene an emergency meeting of the National Oil Supplies Emergency Committee if conditions in the strait deteriorate further. Any formal rationing would be enacted under the Liquid Fuel Emergency Act 1984, which grants the energy minister powers to restrict sales, set prices, and direct fuel distribution across the country.