Far North Queensland is no stranger to sky-high fuel prices, but recent events have pushed prices even higher. Photo: Erik Mclean.
Representatives of sectors including tourism, aviation, freight and logistics have been banging their heads together and lobbying the Federal Government in the face of fuel supply issues and volatile prices impacting the Far North.
Strategic storage and distribution, resilience and support for particularly exposed communities were among the recommendations which emerged from RDA Tropical North’s latest FNQ Fuel Impacts Roundtable, held earlier this month.
On Wednesday, the price of diesel had soared to more than $3.50 per litre at Bamaga on the north of Cape York Peninsula, while in Cairns prices at some service stations exceeded $3 per litre. Petrol is somewhat cheaper, but prices have also ballooned.
RDA Tropical North board chair Hurriyet Babacan said 30 representatives took part. Sectors represented included local government, health and community services, retail and food security, First Nations services, small business and infrastructure.
Professor Babacan said: “These outcomes were shared with Federal Regional Development Minister Kristy McBain during her recent visit, Member for Leichhardt Matt Smith, Senator Nita Green, federal and state government stakeholders.
“The impact of fuel supply fears has been similar to the impacts of natural disasters and once again serves to highlight the vulnerability of regional and remote areas facing the cumulative impact of consecutive disasters, increased cost of living and housing pressures,” she said.
“The FNQ Fuel Impacts Roundtable confirmed that physical fuel supply was largely maintained in the early months of the Middle East crisis. However, it did not prevent significant economic and service impacts across the region.
RDA Tropical North board chair Hurriyet Babacan is working with representatives of various sectors to inform the Federal Government of the impacts of fuel shocks in the particularly vulnerable region. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
“These impacts could escalate with the region remaining vulnerable to future fuel price and supply shocks as the conflict continues.
“Several key impacts were identified including significant reduction in tourism demand and visitor expenditure, unharvested produce where costs exceeded expected returns, and delayed recruitment across small business.
“Local government resources were redirected from maintenance and capital works, there were disproportionate impacts on remote and First Nations communities, and uncertainty around essential service priorities.
“Higher fuel and freight costs, price volatility and uncertainty are compounded by Far North Queensland’s distance from major markets, reliance on road, air and marine freight, limited transport alternatives and diesel dependence in many remote communities.
“To strengthen our region’s resilience, governments need to consider not just physical supply, but also affordability, confidence, service continuity, preparedness and longer-term energy resilience.
The first roundtable was held in July, as the Federal Government’s temporary fuel excise reduction measures were in place. The relief ended in August.
The wider public has been invited to have their say online at rdatropicalnorth.org.au.
Original Article published by Luke Mortimer on Region Tropical North Queensland.
