Calls for Australians to work from home to save fuel show the nation is already drifting towards rationing, Barnaby Joyce has warned.
His comments come after energy minister Chris Bowen said it would be "sensible" for Australians to explore working from home more often amid the fuel crisis as prices soar.
'I think that's a sensible thing to do in any environment, really," he said on ABC Insiders yesterday.
'Work from home has become an important part of Australian working life."
Joyce said the push ignored the reality that many workers, including truck drivers, abattoir staff and builders, cannot simply switch to working remotely.
'We can't have semi-trailers working from home. It doesn't get groceries to the supermarket,' he said.
However, he said that people whose jobs can be done from home should consider doing so to help reduce fuel demand.
'It's sounding a lot like rationing, isn't it?' he said.
'Yes, if you've got public transport and can work from home, there has to be consideration. But it really does sound like rationing.'
He called on the government to clarify how much fuel is actually available in Australia, rather than including cargoes still en route.
'We were told there was no crisis, everything’s okay, you’re just hyperventilating, you’re fear-mongering,' Joyce said.
'And then we started running out of fuel. And then they said there’s absolutely no need for rationing. Don’t worry about it. And now we’re being asked to work from home.
'Even today, when we ask for an honest answer about how much fuel we’ve got in Australia, they add in how much is actually at sea.
'Then I say "that’s how they measure it", when actually the International Energy Agency says you’ve got to mention what’s on soil, not what’s happening — unless you believe you’re a pirate who’s going to take control of these ships.
'People look at it and go, "you’re not being straight", which suggests to me that you’re not across it, which worries me.'
Push for free public transport as petrol prices soar
The NSW Rail, Tram and Bus Union is urging the state government to significantly cut public transport fares, or make services free for a period, amid the fuel crisis linked to the Iran conflict.
'We could reduce to nothing for a period of time, or drop it to 50 cents, which has worked well in Queensland,' RTBU NSW branch secretary Toby Warnes said at a press conference in Sydney today.
'Get them out of their cars, give them cost-of-living relief, use the fuel where we need it.'
Anthony Albanese's urgent phone calls as Middle East war drags on
The prime minister has been phoning his global counterparts to try and shore up Australia's fuel stocks over the coming weeks and months, as the Middle East war sends shockwaves through global supply chains.
Australia is heavily reliant on fuel imports, bringing much of it in from South Korea and Singapore, which in turn rely on oil from the Middle East.
Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said.
'The prime minister's negotiating with our Asian neighbours and counterparts to try and maximise the amount of fuel that is available in Australia.'
What the Albanese government says about working from home as fuel prices soar
Australians should work from home where possible and drive at slower speeds to help limit oil demand during the Middle East conflict, the International Energy Agency has advised.
When asked whether Australia should adopt the work-from-home recommendation, Energy Minister Chris Bowen said remote work was a good option where it could be done.
He said that not everyone is able to work from home, but said people should consider ways to reduce their fuel use.
Aussies warned to brace for painful supermarket price surge
Australians are being warned to brace for higher grocery costs, with University of Adelaide Associate Professor Devika Kannan saying surging diesel prices will soon hit household budgets.
'High fuel costs may compromise both food security and the resilience of domestic logistics infrastructure,' Professor Kannan told the Science Media Centre.
'Surging diesel prices threaten a 50 per cent spike in food costs and the potential collapse of just-in-time logistics networks.'
Aussies urged to work from home and drive slower to save precious fuel
Australians should work from home where possible and drive at slower speeds to limit oil demand during the Middle East conflict, the world's top energy agency says.
The recommendations come as Australia's energy minister flags further potential releases from stockpiles after dozens of service stations ran out of fuel.
The International Energy Agency released a series of steps on Friday that would ease the burden of the global oil price spike.
Recognising 45 per cent of the world's oil demand comes from road transport, the agency urged workers to stay at home where possible and consider public transport if they need to travel.
A reduction of 10km/h for highway speed limits would also cut fuel use, the agency said.
Beyond roads, reducing air travel and shifting away from the use of liquefied natural gas in cooking appliances would help protect vulnerable households.
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