<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/petrol" rel="" target="_blank" title="Service stations"><span>Service stations</span></a><span> across Australia have been hit by fuel shortages, leading to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/petrol-prices-australia-middle-east-conflict-will-they-rise/8888cc07-903f-4ce9-922a-a9ba4c8c52c7" rel="" target="_blank" title="panic buying"><span>panic buying</span></a><span> and queues of cars around the block in some places.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But there are no lines of locals hoping to fill up jerry cans at the independent Batlow petrol station – because it's clean out of fuel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The only servo in the town more than 400km from Sydney ran out of petrol earlier this week and no one knows when more will arrive.</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>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-live-updates-march-13-donald-trump-latest-news-headlines/2c48fadd-6ec9-4b19-9392-9ec9255db683" target="_blank"><strong><span>Iran reveals underground 'missile tunnels</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We've got no fuel, and the operator hasn't got any and can't give us any sort of date when the fuel is going to come back," Batlow service station worker Sam Hughes told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said operators are having a hard time finding fuel at a reasonable price, leaving independent stations like Batlow in strife.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is the environment where independents get squeezed out of markets," he said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-batlow-out-of-petrol-iran-war/4feabda2-ac22-4ee1-bd2f-d98ba8a87663" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're waiting to see if the market comes down or we get some sort of government assistance."</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/weather-forecast-australia-rain-set-to-continue-in-wet-start-to-autumn/67708694-59eb-4fa0-a764-9c5889f23eac" target="_blank"><strong><span>Rain set to continue in wet start to autumn across parts of country</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr echoed Hughes' fear that independent retailers are being squeezed out by big companies, leaving communities like Batlow to pay the price.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm hearing of independent operators under quite a lot of pressure, not getting fuel, running low on fuel, even running out of fuel elsewhere too," he told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That says to me, there is an issue with the system, this is not just panic buying.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Batlow is a bit like the canary in the coal mine."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The fuel shortage caused by the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/iran" rel="" target="_blank" title="war in Iran"><span>war in Iran</span></a><span> has hit regional areas especially hard, as most have access to a limited number of service stations but rely on petrol for more than just getting around.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Plenty of Batlow locals own acreages and need fuel for tractors and other machinery as well as their cars.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's also vital to the local agriculture industry, as well as emergency services in the region.</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/qantas-settles-covid-class-action-for-105-million-dollars/5328147d-ccf8-4e0b-8af7-a5ff6622fd89" target="_blank"><strong><span>Qantas agrees to $105 million settlement over COVID-19 flight credits</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>With the local servo all sold out, Batlow residents are being forced to drive 30 minutes away to Tumut for reliable fuel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But if you've only got a quarter tank left, and there's no public transport, that's a big ask.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's been a shock to the local population, especially in the lower socio-economic [bracket]," Hughes said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Hopefully there's a bit of community spirit when it comes to jerry canning around."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He added that Australians living in metropolitan areas don't understand just how hard the fuel shortage has hit regional areas.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Because it's not just Batlow struggling; it's small towns across the entire nation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And the shortage could have a significant long-term impact on those local economies.</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/man-missing-from-water-near-houseboat-search-and-rescue-burnett-heads/78215943-eea7-43c2-af27-0bdf380811bf" target="_blank"><strong><span>Search underway for man who vanished off a houseboat amid Queensland floods</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"In regional areas, agriculture and truck transport are the lifeline of our economy," McGirr said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They're important for all of our wealth, so our focus on that is going to be pretty critical in the months ahead."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today, Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced the government will help address the fuel shortage by releasing up to 20 per cent of its local "rainy day" stockpiles for petrol and diesel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It will free up more than 760 million litres of fuel from the nation's domestic reserves.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bowen said the government is also taking steps to prioritise supply to regional areas hit hardest by the shortage.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the meantime, McGirr and Hughes said Batlow is a resilient community and will rally together until more fuel arrives.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When exactly that will be, however, remains unclear.</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 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