Australia PM Albanese to address nation as Iran war pushes oil prices higher

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CANBERRA – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will deliver a rare national address on the evening of April 1, setting out the government’s response to the Iran war, which has disrupted energy supplies and driven up global oil prices.

Mr Albanese is scheduled to speak at 7pm in Canberra, with local media outlets reporting he will likely ask for cooperation from Australians, including voluntarily saving fuel for areas and industries that need it.

The address comes as a temporary cut to fuel excise takes effect, part of a broader effort to ease cost pressures on households and businesses. 

Australian Housing Minister Clare O’Neil said Mr Albanese “will be talking about the status of what’s going on in Iran and the plans that the government has to protect the Australian community from the worst”.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on April 1 the government would also provide targeted tax relief for small businesses, as the economic fallout from the conflict ripples through the domestic economy.

Mr Albanese’s centre-left government has moved to reassure motorists that fuel shipments to Australia remain stable, attributing shortages in some areas to panic buying and distribution bottlenecks rather than supply disruptions.

Australia, a key US security ally, has contributed to defensive operations in the Middle East, including deploying an electronic surveillance aircraft to support the United Arab Emirates.

Officials have also repeatedly said there are no plans to commit combat forces or ground troops to the conflict.

“Australia is not a party to the war that Trump is waging with Iran but certainly Australian households are being hit by it,” Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation

He added: “They’re being hit hard, which is why we’re taking such strong action to support them.” BLOOMBERG