By June Ramli
Perth, April 17: Australia could face significant disruption if a genuine fuel shortage were to occur, with a 45-minute briefing held on April 16 examining how constrained global supply, rising prices and domestic vulnerabilities may shape the months ahead.
The session was delivered by Associate Professor Stuart Walsh from Civil and Environmental Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering at Monash University, and Associate Professor Andrew Rendall from the Energy Impact Lab and the Department of Economics at Monash Business School, Monash University.
The discussion focused on how consumers are responding to higher fuel costs and where economic and regional impacts are likely to emerge first, particularly in transport-dependent sectors.
It also examined Australia’s position in an increasingly constrained global energy market, including the role of international contracts and alliances in determining access to fuel.
The two professors also considered the reliability of international energy partners, particularly in scenarios where countries may prioritise domestic reserves over export commitments during periods of supply pressure.
The session further explored what an effective and equitable rationing or prioritisation system might look like if Australia were to face a genuine shortage, raising questions about how limited supply should be allocated across industries, essential services and communities.
The briefing also looked at whether the current pressures could accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy, or whether rising costs and economic strain could instead limit the capital available for such investments.
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