Petrol shortages devastate farm production as refineries favour big retailers.

Farmers in rural NSW have only days of fuel left as petrol refineries favour big petrol retailers over smaller independents.  

The controversial decision to preference the big petrol retailers means farmers won’t be able to feed animals or operate machinery during the upcoming seeding and harvesting season.  

“This is a disaster for our farmers and for Australia’s food security,” Member for Murray, Helen Dalton, said. 

“If the fuel supplies dry up in rural Australia, it won’t be long before food production comes to a standstill.” 

Blighty dairy farmer Lachlan Marshall says he only has six days of fuel left before production on his farm will cease.  

“The Government is running around saying nothing is wrong, when out here on the land, we are facing a crisis,” Mr Marshall said.  

“My cows need to be milked, and in six days, I won’t have the fuel to do it.” 

“Is Chris Bowen going to come out to my property in his polished R. M. Williams boots and his spotless chino pants and help cut down 300 hectares of corn so I can feed my cows when I run out of fuel in six days?” Lachlan asked. 

“And is he then going to run around my paddocks with a wheel barrow helping to feed that corn to 2,500 head of cattle because we can’t use our trucks? I don’t think so.” 

Helen Dalton is calling on the Federal Government to step in and stop refineries from favouring the big retailers like Shell and Caltex, who usually have ongoing contracts, over the smaller independents who typically purchase their fuel on the spot market.  

“These city-dwelling politicians forget where their food comes from,” Helen said.  

“The Minister for Energy, Chris Bowen, needs to make sure our farmers and rural producers don’t run out the fuel they need to keep feeding the nation.” 

It’s expected that diesel prices in Ms Dalton’s electorate of Murray will hit three dollars a litre as early as tomorrow, with many farmers already stopping any non-essential work on their properties.  

“Skyrocketing prices are one thing,” Helen said. “But many of the people in my electorate are facing the very real prospect of simply not being able to buy any fuel, regardless of the price.” 

“Make no mistake, if that happens, and rural Australia is forced to shut down, every single Australian end up paying the price as well, very quickly,” Helen said.