$20M Fuel Ad Campaign Backfires
Every little bit helps. That’s the latest facile message from the Australian government as they haplessly grapple with the crippling global oil crisis.
Amid rising concerns for our national fuel security, the Albanese government has spent $20 million of taxpayer money funding its latest public relations boondoggle.
The ‘every little bit helps’ campaign rolled out this week with national television and radio ads advising Aussies on how they can help preserve the national fuel supply.
Useful tips, like drive less, take more public transport, only fill up with the fuel you need, run more errands in fewer trips, remove unnecessary weight from the car, and keep your tyres inflated to reduce fuel consumption.
The campaign was quickly criticised for being needlessly expensive, confusing, and downright condescending to the Australian people. Watch below and judge for yourself.
Once again, the government has shown just how out of touch it is with the Australian public, spending $20 million on advising us to do what most Australian drivers do on a daily basis to save on fuel.
Throughout the oil crisis, the Albanese government has shown its hand as weak and ineffective. From the prime minister’s underwhelming national address to this ad campaign, they have adopted the position of: “we’ve done what we can, the rest is up to you now.”
Even before the oil crisis, their attitude was the same as rising cost of living placed increased pressure on households. At that time, we were told to tighten our belts and stretch the weekly budget, maybe consider getting a second or third job to supplement our income.
As the Reserve Bank repeatedly raised the interest and cash rate, struggling Australians were expected to make up the shortfall while RBA executives continued to reap massive bonuses and pad their investment portfolios.
Australia consistently ranks among the top ten countries in the world for quality of life, but fewer and fewer can afford to enjoy it. We’re often told during times of crisis that: “we’re all in this together, everyone needs to do their part.”
But how often do our elected representatives and corporate leaders live up to that mantra? What sacrifices are they making? What limits have been placed on their travel and fuel allowances as they cavort around in premier car services and private jets? And what of the generous fuel subsidies given to mining conglomerates that profit from our natural resources?
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Energy Minister Chris Bowen has admitted Treasury hadn’t modelled the impact of the campaign on fuel stocks, defending it as community advice that Australians can follow if they like.
“It’s just useful community information that we encourage people to look at, and if it suits you, take it up by all means,” he said.
It’s not the first time Australians have been asked to conserve fuel usage or faced the prospect of fuel rationing.
The National Fuel Security Plan puts rationing as a final step but during World War Two Australians were initially encouraged to voluntarily reduce petrol consumption before rationing was implemented, and again in the 1970s with another Iranian oil crisis.
Fuel rationing is extremely unpopular, and the government is trying to avoid it at all costs. Currently, Australia has secured fuel reserves through to May with approximately 39 days of petrol, 29 days of diesel, and 30 days of jet fuel.
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