Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged Aussies to live life normally amid the fuel crisis – to a degree.

In an address to the nation at 7pm AEDT, Albanese said the Australian people should keep others in mind, particularly essential workers and those employed in critical industries, and conserve fuel for where it is needed the most.

‘It’s the Australian way that people want to do their bit and there’s simple ways that you can,’ he said.

‘You should go about your business and your life as normal. Enjoy your Easter.

‘If you’re hitting the road, don’t take more fuel than you need, just fill up like you normally would.’

In a stark turnaround from weeks of his government saying there was no fuel crisis in Australia, he urged foregoing fuel for critical areas and wide use of public transport.

The Prime Minister said it was important to ‘think of others in your community, in the bush and in critical industries’.

‘Over coming weeks, if you can switch to catching the train or bus or tram to work, do so,’ he said.

‘That builds our reserves and it saves fuel for people who have no choice but to drive.

‘Farmers and miners and tradies who need diesel every single day, and all those shift workers and nurses who do so much for our country.’

In his speech, Albanese stopped short of announcing any restrictions or mandates, but said it would be a ‘tough few months’ for the country as the war in the Middle East reverberates through oil markets and the wider global economy.

Anthony Albanese’s speech will play here when he addresses the nation at 7pm.

Several notable figures have taken aim at Albanese’s national address, including One Nation leader Pauline Hanson who accused the PM of downplaying the crisis to win over voters.

Sky News host Andrew Bolt described the speech as contradictory with one half dedicated to urging Aussies to go about life as normal and the other warning of struggles ahead.

‘Didn’t that sound contradictory to you? “Don’t change anything. Go about life as normal. Hit the road on Easter if you wish”,’ Bolt said.

‘But actually, “If you can save some petrol for the farmers and the nurses, of course, that would be good”.’

Hanson, appearing on Bolt’s show, highlighted how countries with better fuel reserves – including Japan and South Korea – have already introduced fuel rationing measures.

She believed Albanese’s address was an opportunity for the Prime Minister to save face because his team is ‘very concerned about the polls’.

‘I think they’re very concerned. They haven’t been upfront with the Australian people and I think they need to,’ Hanson said.

Other critics included journalist Antoinette Lattouf who said the three-minute video ‘had peak this should’ve been an email energy’.

Independent NZ journalist Chris Lynch wrote: ‘Anthony Albanese just pulled off the ultimate media heist… free airtime on every commercial network with nothing of substance.’

Economics writer Tarric Brooker said: ‘If you listen very carefully you can hear your fellow Australians checking if their local Bunnings is still open to go buy a jerry can.’

Greens MP has slammed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s address as a ‘nothing burger’ and called Australia to rely less on the United States.

David Shoebridge shared a series of posts to X, formerly Twitter, following the national address at 7pm.

‘What we needed was a clear path away from the US and its dangerous wars,’ Shoebridge said.

‘Instead we got a nothing burger message with an undertone that thing will only get worse. This inspires no confidence.

‘A national address needs a national leader and a clear set of actions, this one had Albanese and a series of empty phrases workshopped through focus groups.

‘What an empty man he is and what a hollow government.’

Opposition leader Angus Taylor has said Anthony Albanese speech was a rehash of his earlier words with no concrete action.

‘We needed more detail and we needed a clear plan. This was a rerun of Monday’s press conference, and it didn’t give us the detail we need to be clear.

‘There’s a lack of confidence around Australia, there’s confusion around about the state of the fuel system. How much fuel is there out there? Why is it that over 600 service stations are without fuel?

‘He should have articulated about how much fuel supply we have, when it’s coming in, when the next ships are actually arriving?

‘Be transparent about it so Australians can have confidence about what they’re doing.

‘Truckies, farmers, small business people, are all worried about this situation.

‘We have a problem, we know we’ve got a problem with 600 servos (running dry), we also know that the government keeps telling us there’s more than enough stock.

‘We need clarity on this, we need a plan to go with it… Update us daily on what the situation is.

‘Why are there 600 or more servos without petrol? We need to know where the gaps are and what the government is doing to fill those gaps, and then where this might go over the longer term.

‘The trouble is they don’t know, and there was nothing in what the Prime Minister said tonight or has said during the week, that can give them the confidence they need. to know that we’re in the situation we need to be. We need clarity, we need detail and we need a plan.’

Frustrated Aussies have lashed out at Albanese for his ‘insincere’ pre-recorded address.

After waiting all day for the rare address to the nation, viewers were left disappointed to see Albanese’s message was pre-recorded.

‘Was anyone else expecting it to be a LIVE address to the nation? No sincerity could be felt with a recorded message that probably took multiple takes,’ one wrote online.

‘Hype us up all day, get us all to watch… that? A recorded message?!’ another said.

‘At least I got permission to enjoy my Easter. Thank Albo,’ another wrote.

‘That was the most underwhelming national address I’ve ever witnessed. Surely we deserved better Albo,’ another said.

Other viewers joked the address ‘could have been an email’.

‘An over-rehearsed, pre-recorded NOTHING burger. What was the point Albo?’ one wrote.

‘Albo said literally nothing,’ another said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned the coming months will remain difficult.

‘The months ahead may not be easy. I want to be upfront about that,’ he said in his live address.

‘No government can promise to eliminate the pressures that this war is causing. I can promise we will do everything we can to protect Australia from the worst of it.

‘These are uncertain times but I am absolutely certain of this: we will deal with these global challenges, the Australian way.

‘Working together – and looking after each other. As we always have.’

Albanese also revealed the steps his government is taking to mitigate the ongoing effects of the war.

‘On Monday, National Cabinet adopted the National Fuel Security Plan,’ he said.

‘Leaders from both sides of politics, from right around the country, working together to keep Australia moving. Making sure that we are prepared.

‘So that if the global situation gets worse and our fuel supplies are seriously disrupted over the long term, we can co-ordinate the next steps together.

‘Today, we cut the fuel excise in half. Cutting the tax on every litre of petrol, by 26 cents. Those savings have started showing up at your petrol station.

‘For our truckies, we have cut the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge to zero. Both these measures will be in place for the next three months.’

Albanese said the government is still actively working to resolve ongoing fuel issues.

‘We are working to bring the price of fuel down,’ he said.

‘To make more fuel here and to keep it onshore.

‘And get more fuel here – using our strong trading relationships with our region to bring more petrol, diesel and fertiliser to Australia.’

Western Australia will declare a state of emergency due to ongoing fuel supply issues.

Premier Roger Cook and Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson made the decision after fuel companies refused to share vital information.

Emergency powers are outlined under the Fuel, Energy and Power Resources Act 1972 and will come into effect on Thursday.

‘Full transparency is crucial for staying ahead of the situation and keeping WA’s economy running and protecting our way of life,’ Ms Sanderson said.

‘We are using this act to comply with Level Two of the national plan, which is to compel information out of those companies.

‘It is activating a state of emergency.’

Six fuel companies had been asked to volunteer information including volumes, scheduled shipments and delivery timetables by 5pm Tuesday.

Only three companies replied.

‘Unfortunately, our efforts are being handled by not having the full visibility of the fuel supply chain,’ Cook said.

‘In some cases, we don’t know where the fuel is.’

Top Australian energy analysts expect the government will announce fuel restrictions following the Easter holidays.

While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to keep a calm front while asking Aussies to save fuel where possible during his address at 7pm, experts believe a more worrying announcement will come next week.

Rystad Energy head of Australia, Gero Farruggio, told the Australian Financial Review that Easter was likely the calm before the storm.

‘We are facing a Covid-like situation where we’ll have to be working from home like some other countries who already are and restrictions for non-essential diesel users,’ he said.

‘The challenge is not at what price we can get these [oil] ships, it’s whether we can get them at all.

‘I think you will see a narrative change soon after Easter and I fear measures will come in to get on top of the situation and plan for the long haul.’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was due to make his first Anzac Day visit to Gallipoli, in Türkiye, this month.

No plans had been officially confirmed for the trip.

During Question Time on Tuesday, Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie asked if ministers were pausing events throughout April.

‘If he is referring to what was a proposed trip by myself for Anzac Day in Gallipoli, yes, given the current circumstances surrounding travel toTürkiye, I have cancelled it,’ Albanese responded.

‘I have prioritised dealing with the issues before us and engaging with our regional partners.

‘That is the responsible and right thing to do.’

Australians planning a holiday are facing a brutal blow with airfares set to surge and flights slashed as jet fuel supplies tighten and China curbs exports.

From tomorrow, a return flight from Sydney to London with Cathay Pacific will be hit by an eye-watering $800 fuel surcharge on top of the usual ticket price.

Qantas has already imposed a 5 per cent increase on international fares, while Virgin Australia has also begun raising its prices.

Jetstar is quietly cancelling one in ten of its May flights in New Zealand, and Air New Zealand has already axed around 1,100 services.

Experts warn prices are only going to get worse, with global jet fuel costs surging 11.2 per cent in a week to $175 a barrel – after jumping more than 80 per cent since late February, according to the International Air Transport Association.