Fuel Giants Warn WFH Policies Threaten The Extra Billions They Gouge On Top Of The Billions They Already Gouge

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

Australia's peak fuel lobby has this week raised serious concerns about the long-term structural damage being done to the nation's energy sector by workers who have decided to stay home instead of sitting in traffic for forty-five minutes each way wasting precious fuel.

The warning comes after Energy Minister Chris Bowen urged Australians to consider working from their shitbox apartments following a massive fire at the Viva Energy refinery in Geelong overnight, one of only two remaining oil refineries in the country, which supplies more than half of Victoria's fuel and around ten per cent of national supply.

The blaze broke out just before 11pm after a gas leak triggered an explosion in the facility's motor gasoline production unit. If you believe what they say. All workers were accounted for. The refinery is now running at minimum rates.

Mr Bowen described working from home as a "sensible thing to do in any environment," adding that Australians would already be looking at ways to minimise their fuel use.

It is understood that Australians minimising their fuel use is the part the industry takes issue with.

A spokesperson for the sector said the minister's comments, while well-intentioned, failed to account for the broader economic damage caused by workers who are technically present and productive but not currently filling up a Ford Raptor to go sell real estate in Wynnum.

At time of publication, the refinery fire was still being brought under control and the work from home debate was still being had by people who have never had to make that call.

More to come.