Fuel prices change Australians’ habits during the holidays

Australian retiree Elsa Ojak, who lives in Sydney, was forced to cancel her road trip that she was planning during the Easter holiday this year, due to the significant rise in fuel prices, which has become a heavy burden on the budget of ordinary families.

Ojak is one of the millions of Australians who used to travel during the relatively long Eid holiday, but the sharp increase in the cost of fuel this year prompted her to abandon this habit during the holidays.

Ocak, 66 years old, said that trips to rural areas were part of her annual customs and traditions, but this year she decided to stay at home, to ease the financial burden resulting from high fuel prices.

She added that long trips that take between six and seven hours by car have become very expensive, especially for people with limited income.

She pointed out that fuel consumption on such trips is no longer justified under the current circumstances, stressing that priority should be for those who need fuel for work, while retirees can reduce travel and save expenses.

Global conditions

This phenomenon is not limited to an individual case, but rather came as a result of global circumstances that led to an unprecedented rise in fuel prices, the most prominent of which was the Iran war and its subsequent repercussions, which caused disruption in global energy supplies.

Given that Australia depends on importing about 90% of its fuel needs, this situation was directly reflected in the local market, as the country witnessed a shortage of supplies and a sharp rise in prices.

The price of a liter of diesel exceeded three Australian dollars, while the price of gasoline exceeded 2.5 Australian dollars, during the past week, before the government intervened and reduced taxes on fuel, in an attempt to alleviate the severity of the crisis and reduce the burden on citizens, especially as it coincides with the Easter holiday, which usually witnesses an increase in movement and travel.

Expensive travel

In the same context, artistic director, Rachel Abbott, 27 years old, was forced to cancel her travel plans during Easter as well, and although she used to visit her home in northeastern Victoria, the high cost of fuel and air tickets forced her to stay in Sydney.

Abbott confirmed that the option of driving is no longer economical due to the rise in fuel prices, while airline ticket prices have reached high levels, making travel in both cases more expensive than she can afford.

Humanitarian issues

For her part, 59-year-old aid worker Staff Zotalis said that her plans have not changed much because she prefers to stay at home during Easter, but she stressed that the atmosphere this year is completely different due to global tensions.

She confirmed that the rise in fuel and basic commodity prices was noticeable, but her greatest concern is for those affected by conflicts, especially in light of her long experience in the field of international relief.

Zotalis explained that global crises do not only affect travel and entertainment plans, but rather their effects extend to deeper humanitarian issues, as many in conflict areas suffer from a lack of food and basic resources.

She said: “I have been working in the field of international relief for 25 years, and I lived in Asia for 14 years, and I know people who live near conflict areas who are forced to give up food.”

However, the common factor between all these stories remains the direct impact of rising fuel prices, which has become a major reason for canceling flights and changing the plans of Australians during the Easter holiday this year. About “The Independent”

• Australia witnessed a shortage in fuel supplies and a sharp rise in prices, as it relies on importing 90% of its fuel needs.