<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Countries like Sri Lanka, Vietnam and the Philippines have introduced a four-day work week to preserve fuel stocks as the war in Iran rages on.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At least one expert says the Australian government needs to consider doing the same.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That is, if it isn't already.</span></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><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/daylight-savings-2026-when-does-it-end-australia-what-to-do-clocks-april-explainer/557ba184-b801-488a-8ded-d2e063cf3e21" target="_blank"><strong><span>Millions of Aussies will get an extra hour of sleep soon as daylight saving ends</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That conversation should be being held immediately," Tina Soliman-Hunter, Professor of Energy and Resources Law at Macquarie University, told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Because this [fuel crisis] is not going to end soon, in my view."</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/abc-staff-plan-strike-over-rejected-pay-offer/6157e1a5-46a5-4fe5-89f8-3ffbb8052988" target="_blank"><strong><span>ABC staff to strike for first time in 20 years after rejecting national broadcaster's pay deal</span></strong></a></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-australia-four-day-work-week-solution/63c2f621-2796-4f85-805e-e5a9c4823160" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded, and at least six ships carrying oil bound for Australia have been cancelled.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Petrol prices have surged past $2.50 per litre in many areas, and diesel has hit a record high of $3 per litre in parts of the country.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Even if the crisis was solved this week, which Soliman-Hunter regards as highly unlikely, Australia would still feel its effects for weeks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Are we going to have full liquid fuel security in the foreseeable future? No, we are not," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And we have to plan for that. The last thing we can afford to be is reactionary."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Transitioning to a four-day work week to slash the number of cars on the road and reduce fuel consumption should be part of that plan, she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Other nations are already doing it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sri Lanka ordered state institutions, schools and universities move to a four-day week to preserve fuel stocks last week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Public servants were also shifted to a four-day week in the Philippines and Thailand.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia could do the same in the future, but Soliman-Hunter warned adopting a four-day week won't be a silver bullet.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It would work very well if you're trying to get cars off the road," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The question is whether that would be an acceptable shift in Australia, which I'm not convinced about."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The federal government is likely to take a staggered approach to managing fuel stocks, starting with work from home measures, which have already been hinted at.</span></div></div><div class="player__video-container"><img alt="" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/EKVDlOIaRFdykyoARWI0lQaMDG0=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2026%2F03%2F761700%2Fpickerimage.jpg"/></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Industry Minister Tim Ayres today said employees and employers can decide where it's viable for staff to work from home.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Yesterday, energy minister Chris Bowen said it would be "sensible" for Australians to explore working from home more often during the fuel crisis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And the Business Council of Australia said it should only be used as a last resort.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If we can sensibly reduce our consumption by utilising public transport, let's do that," BCA chief Bran Black said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If there are employees who aren't able to use public transport, then they're going to have different arrangements required."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The federal government hasn't announced any official plans for a return to work from home, but Soliman-Hunter said they should be talking about it if they're not already.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We need to make sure that we've got a whole series of escalating actions in place," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"So first we do things like asking people to work at home wherever possible, then we ask for things like carpooling, and then we might need to go to the four-day work week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I think that's a ways off yet and I think what's really on the cards at the moment is how do we deal with a lack of fuel?"</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australians are feeling the pinch even as the government insists we still have nearly 38 days worth of petrol and about 30 days worth of diesel and jet fuel available.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Soliman-Hunter worries what will happen if or when those stores run out and the nation is plunged into a true and dire fuel shortage.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If that happened, remaining petrol and diesel supply would go to essential services first.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The cost of fuel to the average consumer would skyrocket even higher and more service stations around the country would run out of petrol, making working from home the only option for many Australians.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The broad hope is that the war in Iran will be resolved before it comes to that.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><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><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" 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