<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Treasurer </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/jim-chalmers" rel="" target="_blank" title="Jim Chalmers"><span>Jim Chalmers</span></a><span> has been pressed as to why parts of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/australia" rel="" target="_blank" title="Australia"><span>Australia</span></a><span> are suffering critical </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="fuel shortages"><span>fuel shortages</span></a><span>, as </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/petrol-prices" rel="" target="_blank" title="petrol prices"><span>petrol prices</span></a><span> around the country continue to rise.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Appearing on the Today Show this morning, he insisted Australia had no supply issues with fuel, but admitted a spike in demand have led to "localised pressures" that are impacting some communities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Many of these are rural communities, with some farmers expressing concern that they do not have enough fuel to conduct their day-to-day activities.</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><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-live-updates-march-12-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headline/79946bbf-76ad-4c59-bebb-6a2a092ad4e9" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Iran threatens to strike Americans on home soil as Trump doubles down</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, Karl Stefanovic grilled him about whether the government's response was adequate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Where is the fuel gone? Is it the cartels just hoarding it?" Stefanovic asked. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Where is the fuel? Can you answer that question?</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-prices-australia-stefanovic-confronts-chalmers-over-shortage-price-rise/47bc48fa-e0cd-4619-b442-bc065878ccda" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You know where the fuel is, you say you're working with industry to get that fuel on trucks, but where is it?</span></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/world/petrol-prices-international-energy-agency-agrees-to-record-release-of-emergency-oil-reserves/80752f03-7fe5-4db8-82a6-933452ae3da0" rel="" target="_blank" title="IEA agrees to record release of emergency oil reserves in an effort to calm surging prices"><strong><span>IEA agrees to record release of emergency oil reserves in an effort to calm surging prices</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There are people still waiting for it. Come on. Get your acts together."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Chalmers insisted there were two things going on at the same time, which meant while supply was not an issue, it means there are some short term shortages, he claims.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Overall Australia has enough fuel, the shipments are arriving, we've got big stockpiles," Chalmers said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But we do acknowledge… that in some local communities - in particular regional communities - there have been shortages that we've been working with the ACCC and the industry to address that.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The main reason for that is, even in regional areas, we're told by the suppliers that there was enough for usual patterns of consumption, but not for the elevated levels of buying."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Chalmers also said the government was working closely with the ACCC to combat price gouging at the petrol pumps, with the cost of fuel in some areas rising to three dollars a litre.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/photos-appear-to-show-us-tomahawk-missile-fragments-at-site-of-deadly-iran-school-strike/849ec823-6eb4-40aa-8f5c-7100e040c56b" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Photos appear to show US Tomahawk missile fragments at site of deadly Iran school strike</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government has given the ACCC more discretion to punish petrol suppliers who are caught deliberately raising the price of fuel, and have also doubled the maximum fine that can be imposed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He admitted there were some "concerning" price increases, but assured Australians the government was taking the necessary steps to protect them.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our message is clear to petrol retailers, we don't want petrol retailers doing the wrong thing by Australians, taking advantage of the situation in the Middle East," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Doubling of fines is important, increased surveillance some of these suspicious price spikes as well."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></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" rel="" 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" rel="" 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" rel="" 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" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>