PM warns 'economic shocks' to be 'with us for months' in rare address

The PM insisted the government was doing everything it could but his rare message has been slammed by opponents as a "nothing burger".

The economic shocks from the war in the Middle East will remain for months, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared in a rare prime-time address to the nation, suggesting Australians should try to save fuel where possible.

In a short speech broadcast on all networks tonight, he outlined the measures the government had already taken to address the soaring cost of petrol and diesel and promised to do "everything we can to protect Australia from the worst of it".

Albanese said Australians should "go about your business and your life as normal" but urged motorists not to take more fuel than they needed ahead of Easter holidays and called on commuters to consider public transport.

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He admitted it was "hard to be positive" as the war in the Middle East "caused the biggest spike in petrol and diesel prices in history".

"Australia is not an active participant in this war, but all Australians are paying higher prices because of it," he said.

"I know that you're seeing this at the servo and at the supermarket, and I understand farmers and truckies, small businesses and families are doing it tough, and the reality is, the economic shocks caused by this war will be with us for months."

In a speech light on detail and without any new announcements aimed at addressing the crisis, Albanese said national cabinet had adopted a fuel security plan and leaders from both sides of politics were working to respond.

Albanese listed the 26-cents-a-litre halving of the fuel excise and the temporary removal of the heavy vehicle user charge for truck drivers - passed overnight by the Senate - as key ways the government had acted to help.

"We are working to bring the price of fuel down, to make more fuel here, and to keep it on shore and get more fuel here, using our strong trading relationships with our region to bring more petrol, diesel and fertiliser to Australia," Albanese said.

The prime minister said it was the "Australian way" for people to want to "do their bit" to help.

"You should go about your business and your life as normal," he said.

"Enjoy your Easter and if you're hitting the road, don't take more fuel than you need. 

"Just fill up like you normally would, think of others in your community, in the bush and in critical industries, and over coming weeks if you can switch to catching the train or bus or tram to work, do so."

Albanese left voters with a parting message that the "months ahead may not be easy".

"No government can promise to eliminate the pressures that this war is causing," he said. 

"I can promise we will do everything we can to protect Australia from the worst of it. 

"These are uncertain times. But I'm absolutely certain of this, we will deal with these global challenges the Australian way, working together and looking after each other, as we always have."

'This wasn't so much about plans and policies'

Nine chief political editor Charles Croucher said there wasn't much detail in the speech but it was more about assuring Australians there was a strategy to deal with the crisis.

"This wasn't so much about plans and policies," he told A Current Affair's Ally Langdon straight after the address aired.

"It felt to me, this was about addressing rumours and stopping any kind of whispering campaign, WhatsApp messages or Facebook status updates that say, 'We're going back into lockdown' - stopping that now, before the Easter long weekend, when everyone goes home or goes to family functions or just goes and enjoys themselves."

Croucher said it seemed the government was taking the "anti-COVID approach" to dealing with the fuel crisis.

"Remember back five years ago, we'd all gather around to hear a premier say, if we could stay in our house or leave their house tonight, that's different to here.

"Now the prime minister is saying this is a long-term strategy. 

He's the one that's going to be addressing the nation and also, here's what you can do. In no way was it here's what you have to do."

Political opponents slam 'nothing burger'

Nationals Leader Matt Canavan said he wasn't sure the PM's message would reassure people, arguing it would have been better to give Australians more information. 

"This short address to the nation had the hallmark of every other government statement about this crisis over the past few weeks," he told Sky News' The Bolt Report.

"It's a melange of mixed messages and the hinting, the sort of hint of the fact that the government's not quite being upfront, they're not quite giving it to you straight.

"Because we saw there in just three minutes, the prime minister say that you can go about your normal business. Everything's fine. 

"But then he does want you to make some changes, which exactly is it?"

Greens Senator David Shoebridge said the "nothing burger message with an undertone that things will only get worse ... inspires no confidence".

"A national address needs a national leader and a clear set of actions, this one had Albanese and a series of empty phrases workshopped through focus groups," he wrote on X.

"What an empty man he is and what a hollow government.

"What we needed was a clear path away from the US and its dangerous wars."

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor was yet to make any fresh comments after the speech but posted a video of himself in parliament earlier in the day criticising the government's handling of the crisis.

Labor Minister Tim Ayres said the prime minister was determined "to use his office to send a very clear message about what the government is doing to support Australians at this time, but also to talk to Australians about what we can all do together".

"There is an Australian way of approaching national challenges," he told the ABC's 7.30. 

"The fuel security plan that the prime minister led and took to the national cabinet was adopted across party lines, across levels of government in the national interest, and it sets out a very clear framework for governments, the private sector and Australians to work together to put us in the best position that we possibly can."

Rare step for PM to take

The last time a prime minister gave a national address of this scale was during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Scott Morrison spoke to the people of Australia on the evening of Thursday, March 12, as borders slammed shut and the country went into the first of many lockdowns.

He outlined government plans to manage the impacts of the virus and reassured Aussies that "we are well prepared and are well equipped to deal with it".

About 12 years prior, Kevin Rudd addressed the nation regarding the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) of 2008.

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"I have absolute confidence that as a nation, we will get through these tough times together," he said.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed US President Donald Trump will "provide an important update on Iran" at 9pm on Wednesday (midday Thursday AEST).

Leavitt's announcement came just hours after Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that US forces could leave Iran in "two or three weeks".

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