• bitteroldcoot@piefed.social
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    5
    arrow-down
    7
    ·
    2 hours ago

    “The prime minister sought to assure Australians it was still business as normal but said workers should consider taking public transport to conserve fuel supplies for those who didn’t have the option.”

    Is he really this stupid???

    I’m in the usa, and I even know there are already extensive fuel shortages in Australia. Mostly due to Australia’s refusal to keep the required 90 strategic reserve or have any refineries.

    PS: Yes I know this is all trump’s fault, but Australia and New Zealand seem to have just refused to prepare for the inevitable.

    • SapphironZA@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      2 hours ago

      South Africa dodged a similar problem, our last president sold our 90 day reserve to his Dubai buddies below market rate. Fortunately our new multiparty government has competent people in place that fixed that before this crisis. Thus our fuel price is “only” going up by 15%, rather than tracking the oil price. It will go up more eventually, but some buffer is being provided for to soften the blow.

      I am very surprised that australia and new Zeeland did not have bigger reserves, given they are on the end of a long supply chain and conflict in indonesia and china can cut off supply for a long time, not the mention a middle east crisis.

      • Rimu@piefed.social
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        40 minutes ago

        I am very surprised that Australia and New Zealand did not wean themselves off fossil fuels decades ago, given they are developed countries with wealth and skills and democracy.