In preparing for the very real prospect of a fully-fledged Indo-Pacific war between China and the West, Australia faces an enormous paradox: we are acquiring nuclear-powered submarines to defend ourselves against this threat and yet, our entire nation, and almost all our civilian and defence transport infrastructure, is dependent on imported foreign fuel.
More than 80 per cent of Australia’s oil comes from overseas, most of which is imported from Asia through, ironically, the contested South China Sea. This is further exacerbated by finite stockpiles of fuel, which would only last for a few weeks if we were ever denied access. According to the Liquid Fuel Security Review, Australia has just 18 days of petrol and 22 days of diesel in supply, although the government is working hard to extend this.
