Current Fuel Crisis
Fuel supply chain disruptions and escalating costs are putting an already stressed and stretched business community under further strain here in Queensland and particularly in our regional communities.
Message from the President Peter Travers: Current Fuel Crisis
Your voice. Your business. Our advocacy
With the current fuel crisis affecting our businesses, the Chamber is actively monitoring the situation to see where it can help our local business community to deal with the fallout.
Business Chamber Queensland, our state representative association, is holding regular on line updates with all the Queensland Chambers and we are attending these. They in turn lobby the state and federal government to ensure that the business community is being heard.
At the chamber level we would like to hear from businesses about the issues they are experiencing which we will collate and pass on. The Chamber will endeavour to keep you updated on the changing situation.
So far the main issues appear to be:
Fuel price increases are increasing production costs which have to be passed on. Freight costs have risen by as much as 50%
So far fuel restrictions don’t seem to be an issue in Goondiwindi. Local primary producers are being supplied and have topped off on farm storages. Independent service stations such as those in Texas and Yelarbon are having supply problems. Federal Government projections see no national supply issues until mid May
Business who are working on fixed price contracts are getting squeezed as their production costs go up.
Businesses are having difficulty doing quotes for work in the future as fuel costs and supply are uncertain.
The Chamber recommends that local businesses consider the following factors:
Try not to get caught up in the media hype. Keep in touch with your fuel supplier and make sure they are aware of your fuel needs.
Be aware of the fuel costs in your business and the effect it will have on your product. Probably time to update you budget with some what-if scenarios.
Have a plan B should fuel become scarce. What alternative methods of production or supply could you use?
Before quoting or signing a contract make sure you have a clause to allow for changing fuel prices.
Please contact Bec with any other issues you are experiencing
See below for surveys and support
𝐅𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 – 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐲
Fuel supply chain disruptions and escalating costs are putting an already stressed and stretched business community under further strain here in Queensland and particularly in our regional communities. Business Chamber Queensland have been in discussions with both state and federal governments to urge a common-sense, balanced response that considers the impacts on consumers, business, and the broader economy.
𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐐𝐋𝐃 is seeking input about the 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒆𝒍 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒃𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 to help us continue to advocate on your behalf as the crisis unfolds. Your responses will help shape the support businesses need as the situation continues to unfold.
Queensland Country Tourism - Fuel Impact Survey
This short pulse survey will help build a clear, evidence‑based view of current trading conditions across the industry. Your responses will strengthen our collective advocacy and ensure we can provide timely, credible data to the State and Commonwealth Governments.
Please complete as much of the survey as you can. Your input is essential to support coordinated action and effective representation for our sector.
AgForce is seeking input through three (3) short surveys focused on Production, Fuel and Fertiliser.
Your responses will help identify where supplies are most urgently needed and provide vital insight into how current conditions are affecting on‑farm operations. This real‑time, on‑the‑ground information will strengthen AgForce advocacy and help inform government decision‑making.
Your responses will be kept private and handled in accordance with Australian privacy laws. Individual information will not be shared with the government.
Please complete all 3 surveys.
Production Survey Captures how fuel and fertiliser supply pressures are affecting day‑to‑day production, from cropping decisions through to broader financial impacts.
Fuel Survey Focuses on fuel availability, pricing and how rising costs are impacting daily on‑farm and business activities.
Fertiliser Survey Gathers information on fertiliser shortages and availability, and the resulting impacts on cropping and production planning.
Support & Resources
Building skills in problem-solving
Challenges are common for small business owners. While we often have not caused the problem, we are left with solving them, meaning problem solving skills are an essential part of the business owner’s toolkit. Some steps include:
identifying the problem/challenge and gather the facts.
building skills to respond rather than react
changing the perspective of the problem
learning to tolerate the problem, acceptance and distress tolerance skills.
A Business Wellness Coach can help you build skills in problem solving so you navigate current and future business challenges. If you are feeling the strain of solving problems reach out today https://sbfcssq.org.au/wellness/
Katherine Watson
Business Wellness Coach
💼 Running a small business just got easier! ASIC has updated its website to make finding tips and tools simple.
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Check out their Business Basics page 🔗 https://bit.ly/3WYrIAe
Nicholas is a Small Business Financial Counsellor based in Toowoomba. He supports small business operators in Darling Downs and South West Queensland:
in-person support in Toowoomba and surrounding areas
telephone and video calls in Darling Downs and South West Queensland.
Having been raised on a local dairy farm, Nicholas understands the challenges that can be faced when operating a small business. Droughts, floods and harsh economic conditions have flow-on effects which can be intimately felt by the local small business community.
Nicholas was a Financial Planner for almost ten years and worked extensively within the SME sector.
His passion for financial literacy drove him to develop his own school-based program which he has been successfully delivering since 2021, to local schools, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities as well as support services on a volunteer basis. This experience has enhanced his ability to help people improve their financial outlook through a no-nonsense, confidential approach. He achieves this by identifying strategies for each business to become more self-reliant and to better manage change in this ever-evolving landscape with easy-to-understand options for controlling and managing finances.
Nicholas holds a Diploma of Financial Counselling, Diploma of Financial Planning and Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking. He looks forward to working with you to help develop options and support you during the decision-making process.
Nicholas works with a team of Financial Counsellors located throughout Southern Queensland.
Grants and Supports
The QSBC monitor available resources, including information, grants and support services, that may assist you with operating a small business in Queensland.
Starting a business
Running a business
Grow your business and yourself
General support services
Financial support services
Business health checks
Legal and Tax support services
Digital security
Grant and support finder tools
🤝Meet Al Vickers, your local Rural Financial Counsellor for the Balonne and Goondiwindi regions.
Al can help you develop your business plan for the year ahead, complete a farm health check as well as help you get back on track by supporting you to work through any financial difficulties your farming business is experiencing. Engaging in support early can make all the difference.
If you would like to contact Al for free, confidential and impartial financial support, click 🖱️here to get in touch https://rfcssq.org.au/rural/al-vickers/
business.gov.au tools, checklists and templates you didn’t know you needed, and how they can help!
💼 Employment Contract Tool: Build your own employment contract, for an employee under Australia's Fair Work System, that is tailored to your business needs.
🚨 Emergency management plan template: An emergency management plan helps protect your business before, during and after an emergency.
🌱 Sustainability checklist: Being sustainable is about making positive changes in your business for the planet and people around you. The checklist guides you through some steps you can take towards sustainability.
💻 Digital strategy template: A digital strategy is a plan to use digital technologies in your business. Use the digital strategy template to set your digital goals and the actions to achieve them.
📃 Risk management plan template: A risk management plan helps you detail how you deal with risks to your business. It helps you provide a safe workplace and reduce the chances of negative impacts on your business.
The ecoBiz sustainability program.
ecoBiz is a free, award-winning sustainability program helping Queensland businesses to save costs, reduce carbon emissions and resource use, and manage climate change risks. Business Chamber Queensland has been running ecoBiz for over 10 years. Over that time, we’ve helped thousands of businesses to save costs and reduce their environmental impacts.
Running a small business can be challenging and stressful. We're here to help! ✨💪🏻
Find information, programs and support to help you run and grow your business in Queensland. From managing people and business planning to legal obligations and risk management.