Disruptions to fuel supplies have raised questions about how prepared Australia is for a potential shortage, and the implications for households, industries and regional communities.
The Monash Climate Communication Hub invites journalists and media professionals to join a rapid-response briefing unpacking these developments.
Discussions will explore what a genuine fuel shortage could look like in Australia, how consumers are responding to higher prices, and where economic and regional impacts are likely to emerge first. It will also examine Australia's ability to accelerate the energy transition and the implications for households, and Australia’s position in a constrained global market, including the role of international contracts and alliances in determining access to fuel.
The online briefings will connect journalists directly with leading researchers and subject-matter experts, and are designed to support accurate, timely and impactful reporting on climate and energy.
Date: Thursday 16 April 2026
Time: 2-3pm (AEST)
Location: Zoom (link will be sent via calendar invitation)
Hear from Professor Elizabeth Lester Director, Monash Climate Communication Hub:
“This moment is a test of how Australia's energy system operates under pressure, and reveals how households, markets and policy responses interact in times of disruption.”
"Periods of disruption like this expose the underlying strengths and weaknesses of Australia's energy system and offer an important opportunity to better understand where resilience exists and where it needs to be built."
The briefing session will explore:
- The extent to which higher fuel prices have changed household behaviour.
- How costs are currently being absorbed and when/if they will lead to spikes in food and consumer prices.
- The reliability of international energy partners when domestic supply pressures tempt countries to prioritise national reserves over export contracts.
- What an effective and equitable rationing or prioritisation system could look like if Australia faced a genuine fuel shortage.
- Whether the current crisis provides the necessary friction to speed up the electrification of Australia’s economy, or if it depletes the capital needed for the transition.
- Which indicators communicators should watch over the next 3-6 months to predict the next phase of the crisis.
More information about the Rapid Response Briefings
Climate and energy stories increasingly dominate the news cycle, with journalists often required to report quickly on complex, evolving issues. These briefings are designed to cut through that complexity, providing clear, evidence-based insights you can use in real time.
The series will provide:
- Rapid, expert-led explanations of emerging climate and energy developments
- Clear context to support breaking news coverage
- Practical guidance for translating science into accessible reporting
- Opportunities to ask questions and engage directly with researchers.
These sessions draw on the Hub’s expertise in climate communication and its long-standing partnerships with media organisations to support journalists in climate and energy communications.
Whether you’re covering policy shifts, finance or the energy transition, these briefings are designed to help you navigate the story and tell it well.
For more Monash media stories visit our news & events site: monash.edu/news
For any other topics on which you may be seeking expert comment, contact the Monash University Media Unit on +61 3 9903 4840 or [email protected]