Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Australians to “go about your business as normal” over the Easter weekend.

Albanese made the address on Wednesday night – the last prime minister to deliver a national address was Scott Morrison during the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.

He told viewers the government was working to bring the price of fuel down along with making more fuel in Australia and keeping it on shore.

“Go about your business as normal, enjoy your Easter, if you’re hitting the road fill up like you normally would,” he said.

“In the coming weeks if you can switch to catching the train or bus or tram to work do so, that builds our reserves and it saves fuel for people who have no choice but to drive.”

Albanese warned the months ahead may not be easy and he wanted to be “upfront about that”.

“These are uncertain times but I’m absolutely certain of this – we will deal with these global challenges the Australian way by working together and looking after each other as we always have.”

Australia is currently at level two of a four-stage national fuel response plan, and the government has continued to assure the public supply levels remain steady, although demand has spiked prices.

The government is not expected to publicly nominate a clear trigger point for fuel rationing, but it is an expected measure if the country reaches level four of the plan.

This week, the ABC revealed early government analysis assumed the national fuel reserve dropping to 10 days of supply would prompt fuel rationing.

Australia currently has about 39 days’ worth of petrol, 30 days’ worth of diesel and 30 days’ worth of jet fuel in reserve.

The government has already released six days’ worth of petrol from its emergency stockpile and five days’ worth of diesel in response to the crisis, which it said would flow to areas already experiencing shortages.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has also reduced the minimum fuel standards for a period of six months, allowing lower-quality petrol and diesel to remain in Australia rather than being shipped to countries with lower standards.

On Monday, after a national cabinet meeting, the government halved the fuel excise and reduced the heavy road user charge to zero for a period of three months.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has also confirmed the ATO has agreed to provide temporary relief to businesses unable to meet tax obligations due to fuel supply issues.

The tax office will establish a dedicated channel that businesses can use to access the relief.

– ABC/ RNZ