{"id":"F2026L00256","name":"Fuel Security (Temporary Reduction—Securing Regional Supply) Instrument 2026","slug":"fuel-security-temporary-reduction-securing-regional-supply-instrument-2026","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":443193,"registerId":"F2026L00256-fast-fetch-1775958099512","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Fuel Security (Temporary Reduction—Securing Regional Supply) Instrument 2026","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nFuel Security (Temporary Reduction—Securing Regional Supply) Instrument 2026\n\nI, Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy, make the following instrument.\n\nDated 16 March 2026   \n\nChris Bowen\n\nMinister for Climate Change and Energy\n\n \n\n\n\n\n1  Name\n\n2  Commencement\n\n3  Authority\n\n4  Definitions\n\n5  Minimum stocks of diesel and gasoline to be reduced\n\n6  Written plan on regional supplies etc\n\n7  Repeal\n\n \n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Fuel Security (Temporary Reduction—Securing Regional Supply) Instrument 2026.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n  This instrument commences on the day after it is registered.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under section 16A of the Fuel Security Act 2021.\n\n4  Definitions\n\nNote: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in section 5 of the Act, including the following:\n\n(a) MSO product;\n\n(b) obligation day;\n\n(c) subject to the minimum stockholding obligation.\n\n  In this instrument:\n\nAct means the Fuel Security Act 2021.\n\ndistributing entity: see subsection 6(2).\n\nreduction period: see subsection 6(2).\n\n5  Minimum stocks of diesel and gasoline to be reduced\n\n (1) This section applies to an entity if:\n\n (a) the entity is subject to the minimum stockholding obligation in relation to an MSO product; and\n\n (b) the MSO product is diesel or gasoline; and\n\n (c) the entity has given the Secretary a written plan in accordance with section 6.\n\n (2) The quantity of stocks of the MSO product that the entity must hold (the minimum quantity) on an obligation day specified in subsection (3) is reduced by 20% if:\n\n (a) the Secretary has given written notice to the entity stating the minimum quantity in megalitres as reduced under this subsection; and\n\n (b) the entity is taking all reasonable steps to carry out the plan.\n\n (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), this subsection specifies each obligation day that occurs in the period:\n\n (a) starting on the day the plan is given to the Secretary under section 6; and\n\n (b) ending at the end of 30 June 2026.\n\n6  Written plan on regional supplies etc\n\n (1) For the purposes of paragraph 5(1)(c), the plan must explain how the entity is to, throughout the reduction period:\n\n (a) work with the Commonwealth, States and Territories to prioritise and facilitate supplying the MSO product to regional, agricultural or maritime consumers who are or are likely to face shortages of the MSO product during the reduction period; and\n\n (b) supply the MSO product to distributing entities that:\n\n (i) primarily supply the MSO product to regional areas; and\n\n (ii) have or are likely to have a shortage of the MSO product during the reduction period; and\n\n (c) if the entity has been regularly supplying the MSO product to wholesale spot markets—take reasonable steps to allocate supplies of the MSO product to those markets.\n\nNote: The entity may need to give other information to the Secretary under section 36 of the Act.\n\n (2) In this section:\n\ndistributing entity means an entity that purchases an MSO product for supply to another entity.\n\nreduction period means the period specified in subsection 5(3).\n\n7  Repeal\n\n  This instrument is repealed at the end of 30 June 2026.\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument does not amend other legislation; it creates a temporary, conditional reduction in the minimum stockholding obligation for diesel and gasoline under the Fuel Security Act 2021."},"complexity_factors":["Conditional entitlement requiring both an approved written plan and a Secretary's written notice","Reliance on multiple defined terms from the Fuel Security Act (MSO product, obligation day, subject to minimum stockholding obligation)","Time-limited operation with automatic repeal on 30 June 2026","Practical compliance obligation to take 'all reasonable steps' to carry out the plan, not merely a fixed checklist"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument temporarily reduces by 20% the Fuel Security Act 2021 minimum diesel and petrol stockholding for obligated fuel entities that submit a written plan to the Department showing how they will prioritise and facilitate supply to regional, agricultural and maritime consumers, assist regional distributors short of product, and—where relevant—continue supplying wholesale spot markets. The reduction runs until 30 June 2026 (auto-repeals that day) and aims to free up stocks to improve regional fuel availability. Made 16 March 2026."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument remains tightly scoped to its original purpose: providing temporary relief from minimum stockholding obligations specifically to address regional supply shortages. The mechanism (plan submission, Secretary approval, 20% reduction) directly serves this single objective without expanding into unrelated areas."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument with only 7 sections and minimal cross-referencing","Only 2 defined terms specific to this instrument ('distributing entity' and 'reduction period'), though it references defined terms from the parent Act","Simple conditional structure: reduction applies only if (a) entity submits plan, (b) Secretary approves, and (c) entity follows plan","No nested exceptions or complex temporal calculations beyond a fixed end date of 30 June 2026","Clear sunset clause (automatic repeal) providing certainty","Straightforward 20% reduction formula without tiering or scaling"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a temporary rule that lets fuel companies hold 20% less diesel and petrol than normally required by law, but only if they promise to prioritise getting fuel to regional and farming areas that might run short.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Temporarily cuts stockholding requirements** — Normally, big fuel companies must keep minimum reserves of diesel and petrol as a safety buffer. This instrument reduces that requirement by 20% for a limited time.\n- **Targets regional supply shortages** — The reduction isn't free. Companies must submit a written plan showing how they'll work with governments to get fuel to regional, agricultural and maritime customers who are at risk of shortages.\n- **Prioritises country distributors** — Companies must also supply fuel to regional distributors who are running low, and if they normally sell on wholesale markets, they must keep doing so.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Large fuel companies that are legally required to hold minimum fuel stocks (called 'MSO entities' under the Fuel Security Act 2021)\n- Regional fuel distributors and their customers (farmers, fishers, remote communities)\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis is an emergency-style measure to redirect fuel from storage tanks to actual regional users during a supply crunch. It trades off some national fuel security (by allowing lower stockpiles) against immediate regional shortages. The instrument self-destructs on 30 June 2026, so it's strictly temporary."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument temporarily narrows the Act's stockholding requirement by allowing a 20% reduction in minimum diesel and gasoline stocks for eligible entities that submit the required plan and receive Secretary notice. The reduction applies only from plan submission through 30 June 2026 and is conditional on taking reasonable steps and prioritising regional/agricultural/maritime supply and certain distributing entities (s5–s7)."},"complexity_factors":["Conditional reduction requires both a written plan and a written notice from the Secretary (s5(2)(a)–(b)).","Plan content mandates cross‑jurisdictional coordination and prioritisation of regional, agricultural and maritime consumers plus supplying distributors (s6(1)(a)–(b)).","\"Taking all reasonable steps\" is an open standard that creates compliance and enforcement uncertainty (s5(2)(b)).","Definitions and eligibility depend on terms in the Fuel Security Act (cross‑references in s4), adding interpretive complexity.","Short, fixed reduction window and automatic repeal increase temporal constraints on implementation (s5(3), s7).","Note that other information may be required under section 36 of the Act, creating potential additional reporting burdens (s6 note)."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument lets entities subject to minimum stockholding obligations reduce required diesel and gasoline stocks by 20% from the day they give a written plan until 30 June 2026, but only after the Secretary gives written notice and the entity takes reasonable steps to implement the plan (s5–s6).\n\nIt applies to fuel suppliers under the Fuel Security Act who must explain how they will prioritise regional, agricultural and maritime consumers and supplying distributors; the Secretary’s notice triggers the reduced obligation and the instrument ends 30 June 2026 (s6–s7)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/fuel-security-temporary-reduction-securing-regional-supply-instrument-2026","history":"/api/acts/fuel-security-temporary-reduction-securing-regional-supply-instrument-2026/history","analysis":"/api/acts/fuel-security-temporary-reduction-securing-regional-supply-instrument-2026/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/fuel-security-temporary-reduction-securing-regional-supply-instrument-2026/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/fuel-security-temporary-reduction-securing-regional-supply-instrument-2026/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/fuel-security-temporary-reduction-securing-regional-supply-instrument-2026/documents"}}