New South Wales Premier Chris Minns is considering establishing a state diesel reserve amid ongoing national fuel supply challenges, following Western Australia’s recent decision to independently purchase diesel. The move reflects growing concerns at the state level about reliance on federal management of fuel security.

Western Australian Premier Roger Cook announced on Tuesday that the state had secured four million litres of diesel for its strategic reserve at a cost of approximately $10 million. The fuel will be stored locally and intended to support key sectors such as agriculture and heavy industry. This purchase comes amid a broader fuel crisis affecting multiple Australian states and territories.

In New South Wales, Minns acknowledged discussions within his cabinet about establishing a similar diesel stockpile, though he has not committed to an immediate purchase. “We are going to look at it,” he said, noting that the government convened a subcommittee to consider strategic investments related to fuel security. Minns emphasized that national coordination remains preferable but left open the possibility of unilateral state action if necessary. “We’ll see what NSW can do if we have to go it alone,” he added.

The developments highlight tensions between state and federal approaches to managing fuel supply. Federal Opposition leader Angus Taylor criticized the moves as evidence of diminishing state confidence in the federal government’s ability to safeguard energy supplies. He described the actions taken by WA and NSW as reflective of a federal government losing control amid the crisis, cautioning that fragmented, state-by-state responses could exacerbate the situation.

Other states are also signaling intentions to bolster fuel security independently. Queensland Premier David Crisafulli stressed the importance of producing and stockpiling fuel locally while maintaining a coordinated national strategy. He affirmed the state’s commitment to returning to capabilities for drilling, refining, and storing fuel to reduce vulnerabilities.

The federal government has cautioned against fuel hoarding and urged a nationally coordinated approach to address the supply constraints. Nevertheless, recent state-level initiatives signal increasing skepticism about current federal efforts and underscore the challenges in managing energy security across Australia’s federated system. The evolving situation continues to prompt debate over the balance between cooperative national policy and state self-reliance in critical resource management.