By Alasdair Pal
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will deliver a rare address to the nation on Wednesday on the war in the Middle East, with media reporting he will encourage Australians to conserve fuel.
The speech will be broadcast simultaneously on major television and radio networks at 7 p.m. Previous prime ministers have made similar speeches during the Covid pandemic and the 2008 global financial crisis.
“Australian prime ministers typically address the nation at times of great challenge,” Housing Minister Clare O’Neill said in an interview with Sky News on Wednesday when asked about the speech.
He added: “The Prime Minister will talk about the situation of what is happening in Iran and the plans that the government has to protect the Australian community from the worst.”
An Albanese spokesman declined to comment on the contents of the letter.
The month-long conflict in the Middle East has spread across the region, killing thousands, disrupting energy supplies and threatening to throw the global economy into chaos.
Albanese said on Monday the government would halve duties on petrol and diesel and remove heavy road user fees for three months to help families cope with rising costs due to the war, at a cost to the government of about A$2.55 billion.
Australia has its highest fuel reserves in 15 years, but they are still well below the International Energy Agency’s 90-day recommendation.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Wednesday that small businesses affected by the war would have easier access to credit.
“We know that the repercussions are affecting everyone, but we believe that by working together, if everyone does their bit, we can get through this difficult period,” Chalmers told reporters.
This article was generated from an automated news feed without any modifications to the text.
