Australian government says fuel supply 'solid and secure' as petrol prices climb

Australia's federal government sought to reassure motorists on Friday, saying the country's fuel supply remains "solid and secure" despite another round of rising petrol prices at the pump. Officials said there is no domestic shortage behind the increase, even as households already stretched by cost-of-living pressures watch bowser prices climb again.

The government pointed to renewed fighting in the Middle East, now in its fifth month, as the main driver of higher pump prices. The conflict has unsettled global oil markets, pushing up crude prices that flow through to fuel costs in import-dependent countries like Australia, which relies on overseas refineries for most of its petrol and diesel.

Officials said they are monitoring fuel supply chains closely and do not expect disruptions to deliveries in the near term. Motorists were encouraged to compare prices between retailers, as regional gaps can be significant even during periods of broader price volatility, and the government said it would continue to update the public as conditions evolve.