<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/anthony-albanese" rel="" target="_blank" title="Prime Minister Anthony Albanese"><span>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese</span></a><span> will host an urgent national cabinet meeting today alongside state and territory leaders to formulate a federal response to Australia's escalating fuel crisis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today marks the second cabinet meeting in Canberra since the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-march-30-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/e9266dcd-3f4a-470e-8c77-03535b5205a3" rel="" target="_blank" title="war in the Middle East"><span>war in the Middle East</span></a><span> began, and over a month since the US-led strikes on Iran triggered a global oil crisis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia's supply of petrol and diesel is running dry – despite assurances from the government that we have well over a month's worth of fuel in reserve – while the cost of unleaded has reached over $2.60 per litre and is now over $3 per litre for diesel.</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><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/petrol-prices-australia-poll-shows-voters-blame-donald-trump-for-fuel-crisis/7a6210ea-4299-4ed2-8cdf-4256bd604a0f"><strong><span>Poll reveals who Australians blame for petrol crisis</span></strong></a></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/fuel-crisis-australia-businesses-urge-government-to-decrease-heavy-vehicle-road-user-charge-tax/5f06eb9d-5118-48a6-a82f-c83968c3db60"><strong><span>Calls to decrease $3 billion tax to avoid 'even worse outcomes' in fuel crisis</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The agenda today is expected to range from measures to control the distribution of fuel in Australia to free public transport and working from home.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Treasurer Jim Chalmers offered a brief preview of today's meeting and said there needed to be a "coordinated and consistent" response around the country.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/national-cabinet-meeting-to-address-fuel-crisis-australia-government-response/5fed10a8-4f39-4460-9535-85ca07b51bef" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The best way to avoid the kind of harsher COVID-style measures is to do that work," Chalmers told ABC's News Breakfast.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"And the better we do on the front end of this challenge we have in our economy, the more likely we are to avoid some of those harsher measures and restrictions down the track."</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/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-march-30-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/e9266dcd-3f4a-470e-8c77-03535b5205a3" rel="" target="_blank" title="'Worse than COVID': The stark warning as costs surge"><strong><span>'Worse than COVID': The stark warning as costs surge</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The PM last week also </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-crisis-australia-state-and-territory-leaders-to-hold-talks-today/4475f529-536a-4839-994e-dd70d04b873e" rel="" target="_blank" title="ruled out any COVID-style mandates"><span>ruled out any COVID-style mandates</span></a><span> to address the unfolding crisis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I don't want things to be mandated, common sense should apply as well," Albanese said on Friday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This isn't toilet paper that's been piled up in some garages. It's actually fuel.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That's not sensible on a range of levels. One, it's not doing the right thing by your fellow Australians. But importantly, as well, it can be dangerous."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Australian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has urged the government to implement a four-point plan to address the fuel shortage.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This includes securing the supply of petrol by working with allies in the Gulf region, and working with distributors to get fuel out to all Australians more quickly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It also called on the government to reduce the heavy vehicle road user tax from 32.4 cents a litre to relieve pressure on transport businesses and owner operators.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Other measures are already in the works.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Energy Minister Chris Bowen will today introduce new powers to parliament, which will allow the government to use public funds to chip in and underwrite fuel costs for suppliers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Put simply, we will use Export Finance Australia to underwrite the purchase of shiploads of fuel that will add to supply here in Australia," the PM said last week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government is also in talks with local and international fuel suppliers "to help firm up and source new cargoes required to keep </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national" target="" title="Australia"><span>Australia</span></a><span> moving".</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><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></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" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>