this post was submitted on 01 Apr 2026
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Albo will speak to Australians on TV tonight – this is never good | First Dog on the Moon (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 13 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) by arbilp3@aussie.zone to c/australia@aussie.zone
16 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Let's have a bit of a laugh now in case the PM's talk tonight is not funny. Enjoy the cartoon!

top 16 comments
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[–] fizzle@quokk.au 10 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

When this was announced I was expecting either rationing, or mandated WFH, or stimulus, or all 3.

Instead it was none of those things.

Afterwards I realised that they're kinda screwed for the moment: people are complaining that they're doing nothing, but people would also complain if they did any of the things I mentioned.

I think for the moment the important thing to do is to put pressure on the recipients of our LNG to ensure we are receiving diesel - and that is what he emphasised that we are doing.

The other element is to tell everyone to chill the fuck out and work together. Like the guy said, if everyone buys what they need there will be enough. If dickheads start filling up jerry cans then things will be shit for everyone.

[–] minimumchips@aussie.zone 5 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

Labor have no viable opposition, so it shouldn't matter if they receive criticism. They should do what is necessary to help those at the bottom of the economic hierarchy who are struggling most.

[–] Ilandar@lemmy.today 4 points 8 hours ago

Labor have no viable opposition

In an ordinary world, yes, but things are rapidly spinning out of control and very far from ordinary. These are exactly the types of conditions grievance merchants love and it will only make Labor less risk-averse than they already are.

[–] fizzle@quokk.au 2 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

Well, "criticism" should be a normal and healthy part of governance, and certainly they shouldn't be scared of criticism. However, just because there's no real opposition doesn't mean the government should be reckless and disregard the the population's concerns.

When I said "people would complain" I guess I mean, any action will disadvantage a sub set of the population.

For example, if you mandate WFH then people in inner city cafes will be laid off, if you ration fuel then there's less money for people working in holiday destinations.

Right now there's a lot of uncertainty but there's a likelihood of a recession. Any kind of action right now from the PM's office like mandates or rationing will kill consumer sentiment and make a recession a certainty.

As I said, I reckon the best thing the govt can do for everyone including those at the bottom of the economic hierarchy is to put some pressure on those countries receiving our LNG to reciprocate.

[–] minimumchips@aussie.zone 3 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

Yeah I get where you're coming from. I'm doing OK myself, I earn an average wage as an engineer. I pay 40 percent of my income to rent, but I'm not struggling because I have a basic life. I chose not to have a car. Bike everywhere. But I think about people like my sister, who lives on disability support and relies on food donations. I'm worried that the flow on effects will result in rent increases again. I wish the gov would entertain rent caps. There are some people in this country who have no safety margin at all, and they are falling through the cracks.

[–] budget_biochemist@slrpnk.net 1 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

As I said, I reckon the best thing the govt can do for everyone including those at the bottom of the economic hierarchy is to put some pressure on those countries receiving our LNG to reciprocate.

Why not limit the most excessive uses of fuel? Private jets should be restricted so more fuel is reserved for essential trips. Combustion car races, use of yachts etc could be suspended until they replace with electric or the crisis is over.

I would prefer to see fuel rationed for the most important uses rather than the government cut tax on it to make it cheaper for the most wasteful people to use it all up.

[–] fizzle@quokk.au 1 points 6 hours ago

I guess this is the criticism and conjecture that strengthens democracy.

As i said, these types of actions guarantee a recession.

[–] veroxii@aussie.zone 8 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

What a waste of a speech. No details at all. Just some stupid platitudes, using the word "truckies" a lot. "We're doing stuff which I won't give details on, but trust us".

Didn't mention at all how over the last 25 years they've closed 6 of 8 refineries, stopped all AU based drilling and extraction and off shored everything. And also during that time reduced our national oil reserves to be the least of any G20 country at 40 days and now the chickens have come home to roost.

Didn't mention it at all... Very surprising.

[–] fizzle@quokk.au 3 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Why did we shut down those refineries and why aren't we drilling?

[–] StanleySpoon@piefed.zip 5 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Refineries were shut down due to being outcompeted by offshore refineries. Environmental regulations make it hard to drill.

What fucks me off is that it’s fine to burn the oil that others drill, but god forbid we drill our own.

[–] fizzle@quokk.au 2 points 9 hours ago

Wow ok. It's just so stupid that people haven't wanted to pay more for their fuel for the last 30 years.

I mean why pay $2 a liter for imported diesel when you can pay $3 for locally refined diesel. Crazy.

[–] Ilandar@lemmy.today 3 points 12 hours ago

It’s already scary and weird so why anyone thought it would help for the prime minister to address the nation I do not know

That's a pretty funny line lol

[–] OriginEnergySux@lemmy.world 3 points 12 hours ago

One word: "oof"

[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 2 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

He’s announcing a conscription plan to create a new generation of ANZACs, for God, King and Country

[–] arbilp3@aussie.zone 3 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

😱 That's definitely not funny.

[–] arbilp3@aussie.zone 1 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago)

Here's the PM's address: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-01/iran-war-live-updates-us-israel-australia-petrol-oil/106518848