Labor Marginally Eases Diesel Standards To Boost Supply

The adjustment is expected to make it easier to import from the United States, Canada and Europe, where lower flashpoint standards apply.

A petrol station sign advertises diesel for over three Australian dollars a litre, a new high due to the Middle East war, in the Melbourne suburb of Newport in Australia on March 23, 2026. William West/AFP via Getty Images

The Albanese Labor government will ease diesel standards in a bid to increase fuel supply for farmers, truck drivers and regional communities amid disruptions from the Iran War.

The six-month measure lowers the diesel flashpoint—from 61.5 degrees Celsius to 60.5 degrees—allowing suppliers to access a wider range of fuel from both domestic refineries and international markets.