Urgent action needed as regional fuel crisis deepens

The Nationals Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland MP, has called for urgent intervention from the Allan Labor Government as fuel shortages and skyrocketing prices begin to bite across regional Victoria.

Ms Cleeland has written to the Premier and the Prime Minister, warning that communities across the Euroa electorate are facing an escalating fuel crisis with serious consequences for households, businesses and essential services.

She also raised the issue directly in the Victorian Parliament this week, putting a question to the Premier and calling for immediate action to address worsening supply constraints in regional areas.

“I have been inundated with calls from farmers, freight operators, small businesses and families who simply cannot access fuel,” Ms Cleeland said.

“In some communities this week, we have had no power and no ability to access fuel for jerry cans to run generators. That is a serious and escalating crisis.

“This is not just a cost-of-living issue, it is a supply crisis disrupting daily life and putting regional economies at risk.”

Ms Cleeland said the spot market price for fuel had surged to more than 100 cents per litre above typical pricing, placing unsustainable pressure on independent distributors critical to regional supply.

“For many of our local distributors, this is not just about higher prices, it is about whether they can secure supply at all,” she said.

“With crop sowing beginning and grape harvest underway, demand is increasing and this will worsen without intervention.”

Ms Cleeland called for the urgent release of fuel from the Minimum Stockholding Obligation (MSO) reserves into the spot market, with a focus on supporting independent regional distributors.

“Injecting supply into the spot market is a practical step to stabilise prices and restore availability where it is needed most,” she said.

Ms Cleeland also called on the State Government to urgently pressure the Federal Government to halve the fuel excise and reduce the Road User Charge to keep freight moving and ease pressure on prices.

“Regional Victorians should not be left exposed while metropolitan areas remain comparatively insulated,” she said.

Ms Cleeland said the situation is already impacting communities across the electorate and warned delays will deepen the crisis.

“The consequences of inaction will be severe, particularly for isolated communities where fuel is essential for agriculture, transport, power generation and emergency response,” she said.

“I have urged both the Premier and the Prime Minister to act now and prioritise regional communities before this situation worsens further.”