<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The owner of a remote fuel station on Queensland's K'gari island has defended </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-australia-calls-for-action-as-hundreds-of-service-stations-in-nsw-queensland-victoria-and-south-australia-run-out-of-fuel/ced53768-0ded-4980-8064-65afb749c06d" rel="" target="_blank" title="charging over $4 per litre"><span>charging over $4 per litre</span></a><span> for diesel, rejecting any suggestion she is "taking advantage" of the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-how-much-does-australia-have-left-explained/f266e2d2-6b91-4166-8f7e-bb424620cc09" rel="" target="" title="global oil crisis"><span>global oil crisis</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Orchid Beach Trading Post and Driftwood Bar, one of the few options for filling up on </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/kgari" rel="" target="_blank" title="K'gari,"><span>K'gari,</span></a><span> is now charging $4.25 a litre for diesel - well above the national average of $2.84 a litre as reported by the Australian Institute of Petroleum.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After facing backlash on social media over the seemingly record price, co-owner Nicky took to Facebook to explain she has "done everything [she] can" to minimise </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/petrol-prices" rel="" target="_blank" title="surging costs at the bowser."><span>surging costs at the bowser.</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>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-march-25-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/a5597d7f-50d1-40b8-94fa-0cfd43b6e879" target="_blank"><strong><span>Iranian 'news' outlet gloats over fuel shortages in Australia</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>WORLD:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-iran-gift-oil-and-gas-middle-east-usa-politics-news/a8aa0c9b-666b-4323-92bf-af32bf6c7019" target="_blank"><strong><span>Trump claims Iran has lavished the US with expensive gift</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I hear the comments about fuel, and I genuinely get it – no one likes high prices, including me," Nicky said in a message.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But please remember, a small, independent servo in a remote location, running completely off-grid on generator power… who can't even get confirmed delivery dates or pricing beforehand – that's just the reality of getting fuel up here."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/price-of-diesel-kgari-queensland-remote-petrol-station/8c9defec-aab4-4be8-aac1-fd507b4bc7af" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Supplying fuel to the 122-kilometre-long sand island is already a precarious exercise.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Orchid Beach Trading Post and Driftwood Bar is one of just five fuel locations on K'gari.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There, motorists can only buy unleaded or diesel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Fuel on the island is generally more expensive than mainland Australia due to the high delivery costs, which involves the use of a barge.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Before the conflict in the Middle East disrupted the flow of crude oil to Australia, diesel could already nudge $3 per litre on K'gari.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nicky said her business is getting "absolutely smashed" by suppliers, including new charges for delivery.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Those costs add up fast," Nicky said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And just to clear a few things up… if anyone thinks we're sitting on cheap fuel bought months ago – yeah, nah," she added.</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/national/mel-schilling-death-married-at-first-sight-expert-dies-following-cancer-battle/5f002ab3-4955-4f34-b1e6-a2b15822fda3" target="_blank"><strong><span>MAFS psychologist Mel Schilling dies aged 54</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>CRIME:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/chris-bagsharian-two-arrested-alleged-murder-kidnapping-sydney/11765004-e46f-4531-8875-c98e6f4a8eab" target="_blank"><strong><span>Two more arrested over alleged kidnapping and murder of Sydney grandfather</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We don't have big storage tanks, and this place runs on close to 2,000 litres a week just to stay open.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I am absolutely not here to take advantage of anyone – just focused doing my absolute best to keep a service running in a pretty tough environment."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She urged visitors to K'gari to fill up their cars on the mainland beforehand, particularly 4WD drivers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The owners declined to comment when contacted by Nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-prices-updates-iran-war-trucking-industry/13a5b797-8e31-40bf-8260-cc83f4f8601e" rel="" target="_blank" title="CreditorWatch's Business Risk Index report published today"><span>CreditorWatch's Business Risk Index report published today</span></a><span> found the price of diesel increased by 36 per cent in just two weeks and has now reached up to $3 a litre on the mainland.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Fears are growing that the price of diesel could surpass $4 per litre more broadly across Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Around 550 petrol stations around Australia have run out of at least one type of fuel as prices skyrocket and supplies threaten to dry up.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><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 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