Australian PM Albanese makes rare emergency broadcast — Iran war fuel crisis hits Australia

Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese made a rare emergency evening address on Wednesday April 1 (D33), broadcast simultaneously on major television and radio networks — the first such broadcast since the COVID pandemic and 2008 financial crisis. Albanese warned Australians of 'economic shocks lasting months' from the Iran war and urged citizens to use public transport where possible. 'The war in the Middle East has caused the biggest spike in petrol and diesel prices in history,' he said. 'Australia is not an active participant in this war. But all Australians are paying higher prices because of it.' Australia imports approximately 90% of its fuel and has experienced localized fuel shortages. Diesel prices are particularly high, affecting the agricultural sector. The government slashed fuel taxes effective Wednesday in a bid to limit price rises of over 35% since the war began February 28. The address signals the Iran war's economic impact has reached a threshold requiring emergency government communication in non-combatant Western allied nations.