Farmers and residents across the Murray Mallee are being hit hard by ongoing fuel shortages, with some communities left without reliable access to petrol and diesel for weeks.
The issue has come into sharp focus during a critical period for the region’s agricultural sector, as recent rains prompt growers to begin seeding, but uncertainty around fuel supply threatens to slow operations.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas says regional areas like the Murray Mallee are a priority, acknowledging the pressure on farmers trying to make the most of improved seasonal conditions.
“Particularly people in the agricultural sector, farmers, who’ve got these long overdue rains, they just want to be able to seed and no-one wants to be caught short on fuel,” he told the ABC yesterday.
Despite millions of litres of diesel arriving in Adelaide in recent days, demand is continuing to outpace supply in some regional areas.
In the Murray Mallee, one local farmer near Karoonda says his nearest service station has been without fuel for weeks, leaving him effectively stranded and unable to risk even routine trips.
The shortage is also affecting transport, with truck drivers reporting long delays across regional routes as they wait for fuel deliveries, further disrupting supply chains.
Premier Malinauskas says South Australia is working closely with the Federal Government through a National Fuel Supply Taskforce to improve distribution, with a focus on regional communities experiencing shortages.
While SA has legislation that would allow fuel rationing in extreme circumstances, the Premier says there are currently no plans to introduce it.
The Federal Government has also ruled out fuel rationing for now, instead releasing a portion of the country’s fuel reserves and prioritising deliveries to affected regions.
