Dr Joe McGirr said the service station owner was not to blame for not selling fuel. Photo: Dr Joe McGirr.
Independent Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr has written to Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen urgently requesting him to restore fuel supplies to Batlow as a matter of the highest priority.
The town’s only service station, an independent operator, has stopped selling fuel. He told the Daily Telegraph that he was quoted $3.20 a litre for bulk diesel but he preferred not to sell at all rather than charge customers such high prices.
“Through no fault of his own, the operator of the Batlow service station is unable to source fuel at a reasonable price and is unwilling to pass on truly exorbitant prices to his community, leaving him no option but to effectively shutter his business,” Dr McGirr said.
Dr McGirr has asked Mr Bowen to urgently develop a system of subsidies, or a similar mechanism, that would guarantee fuel supply at affordable prices to Batlow and other communities in a similar predicament.
“It is unacceptable that the people of Batlow are denied critical fuel supplies and the Federal Government must act immediately to restore those supplies immediately.
“The owner of the station is trying to do the right thing by his community but his hands are tied by circumstances beyond his control and the people of Batlow are suffering as a result.”
NSW Farmers has also called on the Energy Minister to immediately act and resolve the bush fuel shortage.
President Xavier Martin said many farmers and the bulk fuel suppliers they relied on were running dry, despite claims from the government that there was no supply problem.
“What we need the Australian Government to do today is ease the immediate problem of our domestic fuel supply, getting fuel from the terminal to country bulk suppliers and then on to the farms and towns that depend on it,” he said.
“There may be fuel coming into Australia, but the government needs to wake up and realise that does not automatically mean it’s getting to where it’s needed. Fuel sitting in terminals does not fill tanks in rural and regional areas let alone on farms.
“If the terminals are full of fuel and the farms run dry, then Energy Minister Chris Bowen has failed to do his job.”
Mr Martin said moves by the International Energy Agency to release 400 million barrels of reserve oil were welcome and would certainly ease some concerns about fuel supply around the planet. But there was a more immediate issue at home.
“Right now, we’ve got farmers across the country who have run out, or are running out of fuel, while others are only a week or two away from empty. Normally they’re refilled by bulk suppliers, many of them smaller independent distributors in rural and regional areas. Those suppliers are telling our members they’re dry as well, with no more fuel coming.”
Dr McGirr also made the NSW Premier’s Department aware of the situation.
“The Batlow community deserves the same essential energy provision as larger towns and cities and this situation must not be allowed to continue,” he said.
“I call upon the Federal Government to urgently take whatever steps are necessary to end this energy crisis and ensure fuel supplies are provided to Batlow as soon as possible.
“This situation would not be tolerated in metropolitan communities and it should not be acceptable in Batlow.
“I look forward to prompt action by Minister Bowen to restore fuel supplies to Batlow before the shortage causes long-term harm to farming, industry and individuals.”
