New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has issued a "please-explain" to major fuel suppliers as a distribution crisis leaves 105 NSW service stations without diesel and 35 completely dry.
While the Premier confirmed that strategic reserve releases have actually increased overall stock levels compared to last month, "panic-buying" and supply chain bottlenecks have disproportionately impacted independent retailers, particularly in regional areas.
Warning that the government holds the legislative power to compel major companies to sell to their smaller competitors, Minns stated that the industry has only days to rectified the imbalance.
"It’s really important in terms of competition," the Premier noted, highlighting that while the state has a high volume of independent stations, their reliance on the spot market has left them vulnerable during this period of overconsumption.