Portfolio — 18 March 2026

The Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia, Madeleine King, announced immediate measures to address regional fuel shortages alongside longer-term plans for domestic fertiliser production, framing both within a supply-security agenda directed at regional Australia.

**Fuel supply response**

The Minister confirmed the Federal Government released 500 million litres of fuel directed to regional Australia [TA-260319-resour-c84f0aeefa12]. She established a new task force to work immediately with states and territories to distribute diesel and petrol to service stations facing shortages, with regional areas prioritised [TA-260319-resour-c84f0aeefa12].

The Minister assured Australians that the country remains well supplied with fuel and urged the public to fill their cars normally rather than stockpile [TA-260319-resour-c84f0aeefa12]. She noted the government is reducing exports from the two remaining refineries to increase domestic fuel availability for consumers [TA-260319-resour-c84f0aeefa12].

**International supply chain engagement**

The Minister highlighted ongoing diplomatic engagement with Japan, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, and Malaysia to maintain cooperative supply chains for refined fuel and crude oil [TA-260319-resour-c84f0aeefa12].

**Fertiliser security and long-term independence**

Regarding fertiliser supplies, the Minister stated Australia is well stocked and that the Minister for Agriculture is coordinating distribution with state counterparts [TA-260319-resour-c84f0aeefa12]. The portfolio's approach to future fertiliser independence relies on the $500 million investment in the Perdaman and Urea project in Karratha, with production scheduled to commence in March 2027 [TA-260319-resour-c84f0aeefa12].

**Synthesis**

The release pairs an immediate operational response to fuel shortages with a forward-looking industrial policy signal on fertiliser self-sufficiency, connecting short-term supply logistics to the government's domestic production agenda.