NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton this week took aim after learning that some local farmers only have access to days worth of fuel before running out.
Meanwhile, supply and demand pressures continue to push prices up for all users - large and small.
Adding to the uncertainty this week were now refuted comments from Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie, who told a press conference on Tuesday that Deniliquin and Jerilderie were “out of fuel”.
Ms Dalton said creating much of the turmoil are reports of petrol refineries favouring big petrol retailers over smaller independents.
She says the controversial decision means farmers won’t be able to feed animals or operate machinery during the upcoming seeding and harvesting season.
“This is a disaster for our farmers and for Australia’s food security,” she said.
“If the fuel supplies dry up in rural Australia, it won’t be long before food production comes to a standstill.”
Earlier this week, it was announced the Blighty refuelling site operated by Riordans Fuel had run out of diesel.
The shortage was only temporary, with resources replenished on Wednesday but keenly in demand.
Before then, Blighty dairy farmer Lachlan Marshall said he only had six days of fuel left before production on his farm would cease.
“The government is running around saying nothing is wrong, when out here on the land, we are facing a crisis,” Mr Marshall said.
“My cows need to be milked, and in six days, I won’t have the fuel to do it.
“Is (Federal Energy Minister) Chris Bowen going to come out to my property in his polished RM Williams boots and his spotless chino pants and help cut down 300 hectares of corn so I can feed my cows when I run out of fuel in six days?
“And is he then going to run around my paddocks with a wheelbarrow helping to feed that corn to 2,500 head of cattle because we can’t use our trucks? I don’t think so.”
Ms Dalton is calling on the Federal Government to step in and stop refineries from favouring the big retailers like Shell and Ampol, who usually have ongoing contracts, over the smaller independents who typically purchase their fuel on the spot market.
Senator McKenzie’s remarks about Deniliquin and Jerilderie have not helped ease fears.
One of Deniliquin’s leading fuel suppliers shut down commentary being expressed in national media earlier this week that Deniliquin has run out of diesel, which were based on Senator McKenzie’s press conference.
Purtill Group managing director Neville Purtill said his local Ampol service stations, and Ampol, “have not run out, and are not likely to run out”.
“We have enough stock available for normal use, and plans in place for the next three months at least,” Mr Purtill told the Pastoral Times.
After being contacted directly by the Pastoral Times, Senator McKenzie’s office clarified she was referring to wholesale diesel only, and her comments were based on speaking with trucking industry bodies after they had received advice from one of the nation's largest independent fuel distributors.
The Pastoral Times did reach out to Riordan Fuels this week on the local situation, but did not get a response.
NSW Farmers Association president Xavier Martin says the Federal Government needs to stop saying there is no supply program and “immediately act and resolve the bush fuel shortage”.
“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,” Mr Martin said.
“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.”
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