The federal government has announced an emergency plan to address Australia's fuel crisis by temporarily lowering fuel standards under the Fuel Quality Act. Energy Minister Chris Bowen's decision will allow the Ampol Refinery at Lytton in Brisbane to redirect 100 million litres of high sulphur fuel per month to the domestic market for 60 days, targeting regional areas where service stations have run dry. Panic buying triggered by the Iran war has caused regional towns like Batlow to run out of diesel and petrol, with prices surging beyond $2 per litre, while Australia maintains 36 days of petrol, 32 days of diesel and 29 days of jet fuel in reserve.

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