The federal government is urging Australians to minimise fuel use as concern grows over the stability of global supply lines, with transport and infrastructure minister Catherine King warning that the crisis could continue for some time.
Speaking on ABC’s Insiders, King said the ceasefire in the Middle East is still fragile and that the government hopes it holds. She pointed to the Strait of Hormuz as a critical route for the movement of fuel and a major factor in the wider global economy.
“We hope diplomacy works. It’s a fragile ceasefire. It’s our best chance,” King said. But she cautioned that even if conditions improve quickly, the effects on supply chains may linger well beyond any immediate end to conflict.
According to King, Australia should prepare for a prolonged recovery period. She said that even if the Strait reopened tomorrow, “there’s a long tail to this” because the full extent of any damage to infrastructure remains unclear. She added that it is not yet known how quickly shipping could return to normal.
King also said there may already be significant disruption in the system, including a backlog of ships waiting to move and gas plants that have been damaged or destroyed. In her view, the international energy situation will take time to stabilise.
“This is not over,” she said, stressing that the effects of the crisis could continue even if military tensions ease in the short term.
The warning comes as the government continues to monitor fuel supply pressures and encourages drivers to reduce unnecessary use where possible. While the immediate focus remains on the current situation in the Middle East, ministers are also considering the broader impact on Australia’s fuel security if global shipping and energy production remain disrupted.
King’s comments underline the uncertainty facing governments and markets alike. The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the global flow of fuel, and any disruption there can quickly feed through into prices and supply concerns in other countries, including Australia.
For now, the government is relying on diplomacy and hoping the ceasefire holds. But King’s message was clear: even a quick resolution overseas would not mean an immediate return to normal.
