<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some independent petrol stations in regional Australia say they </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-australia-why-independent-stations-hit-the-hardest/fdcc047b-aeac-41aa-81d2-9cad99940605" rel="" target="_blank" title="are now fresh out of fuel"><span>are now fresh out of fuel</span></a><span> despite government assurances that there is no shortage, as wholesalers drastically ration supply and farmers reach crisis point.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The flow-on impact of motorists panic-buying petrol saw some regional independent retailers quickly run out of E10 and unleaded, and Transwest Fuels co-owner Sam Clifton said his supply of diesel has now dried up in </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/new-south-wales" rel="" target="_blank" title="NSW"><span>NSW</span></a><span> and Queensland too.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Clifton blamed the federal government for not stepping in and forcing petroleum and diesel giants to evenly distribute fuel as </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-fuel-shortages-farmers-hit-first-supplies-dry-up/132dbef5-dad4-4e43-a4f5-e051b989275b" rel="" target="_blank" title="tensions rise over whether it is a supply or demand issue."><span>tensions rise over whether it is a supply or demand issue.</span></a></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/iran-womens-football-team-timeline-australian-government/925463a1-cd49-427d-9cc1-b2baa76c051e" rel="" target="_blank" title="While you were sleeping, five Iranian footballers made their dramatic escape"><strong><span>While you were sleeping, five Iranian footballers made their dramatic escape</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The big guys are holding back, there's plenty of fuel there," Clifton told </span><a href="https://www.nine.com.au/?rf=true" rel="" target="_blank" title="Nine.com.au."><span>Nine.com.au.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There's 30, 40 million litres sitting at some of the terminals, but the gates are closed."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth have both denied there is a shortage and said there was enough stock of petrol, diesel and jet fuel.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/petrol-stations-australia-regional-service-stations-completely-out-of-fuel/fc342a7e-279b-4739-aa71-7defeec841b2" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have more fuel in this country than in the last 15 years," Rishworth earlier said on </span><em><span>Today</span></em><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bowen said the issue was a "spike in extra orders".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And inevitably, when you're seeing a huge increase in demand, they're [industry] having trouble keeping up with that," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Clifton echoed former Nationals leader David Littleproud's call for the government to "unlock" the fuel being held back and solve the crisis that is smashing regional Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If they just left it alone, everything would be flowing as normal."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/bali-scooter-crash-nsw-central-coast-mother-alivia-campbell-fighting-for-life/f26cd3fb-46eb-4b52-9958-bb9a4ff0ac00" target="_blank"><strong><span>Aussie mum fighting for life after 'devastating' Bali truck crash</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Clifton yesterday warned that Transwest Fuels retailers, based in Tamworth, had some diesel left but that it wouldn't last long.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said there is now "absolutely nothing" left at his bowsers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"No diesel, no petrols at all," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We have our own trucks and we run to the port, so we've stood all drivers down for tomorrow.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If we can't get any access to anything on Thursday or Friday, then we're looking to shut our whole service station network down."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>EXCLUSIVE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/andy-parking-fine-told-licence-would-be-suspended-over-fine-he-paid-in-full/468b430d-8035-4787-b331-fdd8986e0638" target="_blank"><strong><span>Andy paid his parking fine, only to be slapped with another $130 fine</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia only has two oil refineries in Brisbane and in Newcastle, which supply around 20 per cent of the country's liquid fuel demand.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Building regional refineries – an expensive infrastructure – has been suggested as a way to protect local communities and ease the supply pressure.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We need more of them. There should be one in each capital city or outside each capital city," Clifton said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It would then give us a buffer. The government will say they're too expensive.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But it doesn't matter how expensive it is because if the money stays in Australia, it gets spent here."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span></span><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>