A former State of Origin star has emerged as an unlikely powerbroker in Australia’s response to the global fuel crisis, helping unlock a $300million plan to ease pressure on struggling motorists and regional communities.
Matt Adamson, the towering ex-Penrith Panthers forward turned commodities trader, played a central role in a proposal that prompted the Federal Government to step in with new emergency powers to stabilise supply.
The move comes as a severe global fuel crisis, driven by escalating conflict in the Middle East and severe disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, has sent oil prices soaring past $100 per barrel and triggered widespread shortages across key markets.
Australia, which imports around 90 per cent of its liquid fuels, has been particularly exposed to the shock, with petrol and diesel prices rising sharply in recent weeks.
Against that backdrop, Adamson devised a plan to import large volumes of diesel from Asia, with the federal government underwriting the financial risk to protect buyers if global prices suddenly fall.
The proposal, worth up to $300million, aims to deliver as much as 120 million litres of diesel into Australia’s strained supply chain.
Former State of Origin star Matt Adamson (pictured in his playing days with Penrith) helped drive a $300million diesel import plan to ease Australia’s worsening fuel crisis
The former NSW Origin star (pictured right with footballer Dynari Aiolupo) now works as a commodities trader
Australia faces severe vulnerability due to relying on imports for around 90 per cent of its liquid fuel supply
Adamson said the breakthrough came after he connected with One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce, who quickly escalated the idea to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
‘During that call Barnaby had everyone explain how it would work, and he got it,’ Adamson told News Corp.
‘Then he says he was leaving, and he hung up. He rings me an hour later to say “I’ve shared all the info with the prime minister”.
‘Next thing I know he sends a text first thing Saturday morning saying: “Matty, I’m expecting a decision shortly”.
‘An hour later he said: “I think we’ve got this across the line”. An hour after that he sent me a message telling me: “Turn on the TV, the PM is about to make an announcement”.
Within days, Albanese confirmed the government would introduce new powers allowing it to underwrite private fuel purchases in a bid to shore up supply.
‘Australia will establish new powers … (that) will enable the government to underwrite the purchase of fuel by the private sector,’ the prime minister said.
‘We’re already in discussions with local and international fuel suppliers to help firm up and source new cargoes required to keep Australia moving.’
Barnaby Joyce (pictured) escalated the proposal to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after urgent discussions with suppliers and industry stakeholders
Joyce thanked Adamson (pictured left) for his role in the breakthrough
Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz triggered global fuel shortages, sending prices soaring and exposing Australia’s heavy import reliance
Joyce, a frequent critic of the government, praised the response and acknowledged Adamson’s role in bringing the plan together.
‘You’re gonna hear something you rarely hear from me. I’d like to thank the prime minister of Australia,’ Joyce said.
‘In this instance we put politics aside.
‘Matt managed to get a group of people who were completely legit together and that gives me a lot of confidence that I’m not going to make a fool of myself.’
The proposal was developed through rapid-fire discussions involving suppliers in Singapore and Australian storage and distribution operators, as officials raced to respond to the unfolding global crisis.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route handling roughly 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply, has been heavily impacted by the war, triggering what analysts have described as one of the most significant supply disruptions in modern history.
In response, International Energy Agency member nations have agreed to release hundreds of millions of barrels from emergency reserves, while governments worldwide scramble to reduce demand and stabilise prices.
At home, the Albanese government has already moved to halve the fuel excise for three months, as part of a broader effort to shield households and businesses from rising costs.
Adamson said his sporting background helped him persist through early setbacks while pitching the idea across Canberra.
‘We’ve had to be patient, we’ve had to be resilient, because there were a lot of people right across parliament who I spoke to without success before connecting with Barnaby,’ he said.
‘When you come from a sporting background you know that it’s all about winning and losing. In the commodities trading business, it’s pretty much the same and you lose a lot.
‘But with Barnaby stepping in we’ll hopefully have a win with this one.’
