NSW Truckers Hit Hard by Fuel Crisis

0:00Truck drivers in New South Wales are feeling the pinch from a sudden fuel crisis, with diesel prices surging and shortages hitting hard across the state. Stations are running dry, forcing folks like Chris Gibbs, who rents five trucks in the upper hunter region, to pass on cost to customers sometimes up. To 25% higher fees, geopolitical tensions overseas have sparked the chaos, leading to empty bousers and steep price jumps. On Monday at 5 p.m., 131 stations lacked diesel and 38 had no fuel at all, mostly in regional areas. Diesel hit 314.7 cents per liter in green acre, well above the state average of 285.5 cents. For truckers, the impact runs deep, with many fearing business shutdowns. Gibbs says operators with fixed contracts are absorbing massive fuel bills, like $8,000 per trip, than waiting 30 days for payment. While prices double, friends are already parking their rigs to cut losses.

1:00Premier Chris Minnes is holding off on rationing or work from home mandates, saying supplies aren't critical enough yet to tank the economy. Most public workers like nurses and police can't stay home anyway. The government is pressing fuel companies for supply details and watching closely. Officials hope to stabilize things in the next couple of days, but their eyeing demand controls step by step, especially if Middle East issues drag. On, Sydney News today, powered by AI bringing you what matters.