Media Release
The Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) has reaffirmed the critical importance of fuel security for Australia’s public transport sector following clarification from the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, that recent fuel standard changes apply only to petrol, not diesel.
BIC Executive Director Varenya Mohan‑Ram said the clarification is welcome, but broader fuel security concerns remain unaddressed for Australia’s bus and coach networks.
“We appreciate the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water’s (DCCEEW) confirmation that diesel fuel quality settings are not changing and that Euro 4, 5 and 6 buses will not be affected,” Mr Mohan‑Ram said. “However, Australia’s public transport providers remain vulnerable to disruptions in diesel and AdBlue supply, and we need to ensure buses are explicitly considered in national fuel planning and emergency response frameworks.”
As the national peak body for the bus and coach industry, BIC represents major metropolitan networks as well as the operators who deliver essential services across regional and rural Australia. For many communities, buses are the only form of public transport and remain vital for access to education, employment, medical care, and essential services.
“Buses carry more than half of Australia’s public transport passengers,” Mr Mohan‑Ram said. “Fuel security is not just an operational matter. It is a matter of social equity and community resilience.”
BIC has identified three ongoing priorities for government consideration:
- Public Transport must be prioritised in fuel supply
- Inclusion in fuel‑related roundtables and policy discussions
- Temporary fuel excise relief for operators
Public Transport must be prioritised in fuel supply
Reliable access to diesel and AdBlue is critical to keeping Australia’s bus fleets moving, particularly in regional Australia. BIC is calling for public transport to be recognised as a priority user in any future fuel allocation scenarios.
Inclusion in fuel‑related roundtables and policy discussions
Public transport has not previously been included in recent fuel security roundtables; BIC welcomes the opportunity to now be part of these discussions given the sector’s reliance on diesel supply continuity.
BIC National Technical Manager, Dean Moule states “BIC must be part of those conversations to ensure policy reflects real‑world fleet and fuel requirements across Australia.”
Temporary fuel excise relief for operators
With rising fuel costs continuing to place pressure on both large and small operators, and vehicle suppliers through transportation costs, BIC is calling for temporary, targeted fuel excise relief to support the industry. Especially in regional Australia. Mr Mohan‑Ram said immediate cost relief would strengthen the sector’s resilience while ensuring transport services remain reliable and affordable for communities, vehicle operators, and vehicle suppliers.
“We welcome continued engagement with DCCEEW, and we look forward to being included in all future discussions that affect public transport fuel security,” he said. “Our priority is simple: to ensure Australia has a safe, reliable and sustainable bus network.”
ENDS
