Australia news live: six out of 81 fuel shipments cancelled since start of Iran war, Bowen says; Tropical Cyclone Narelle crosses NT coast as category three system

Weakening system expected to bring severe weather across parts of NT already saturated from recent rains and flooding. Follow live updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe National Fuel Emergency Act 1984, which enabled steps such as fuel rationing, had never been invoked – not during the first two Gulf wars, not during Covid-19 – energy minister Chris Bowen said.It’s not designed to be invoked lightly. It really has powers primarily around defence and health, in the first instance, to ensure that those key areas are getting diesel that they need, but also other forms of fuel.I would need to be satisfied that there’s a real shortage and that the powers under that act are useful.We’ve seen a massive increase in demand, accompanied by that increase in regional areas. Obviously, the regional areas are where the supply chain is the hardest to manage. It takes longer to get from Geelong and Brisbane to the various regional areas.You’ve also got lots of rural suppliers, distributors and service stations working on very tight margins and not always able to access fuel that’s available. Continue reading...