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Commonwealth act
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
What this law does
This is a short piece of national security legislation that gives the government (specifically, the relevant Minister) the power to force fuel importers to stockpile liquid fuel inside Australia in the interests of national defence.
Think of it like a strategic fuel reserve requirement — the government can tap importers on the shoulder and say: "You must keep X litres of aviation fuel, diesel, or crude oil sitting in Australia at all times, just in case."
Who does it affect?
How does it work?
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Direct links to the current provisions in Liquid Fuel (Defence Stocks) Act 1949.
Zoe has indexed the source text for search and analysis. Use the official register for the original document and download formats.
View on official registerSourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
What if an importer doesn't comply?
What if holding the stockpile costs the importer money?
Why does it matter?
This law reflects a Cold War-era concern that Australia — being geographically isolated — could be cut off from fuel supplies during a conflict or emergency. By legally requiring importers to maintain local stockpiles, the government ensures there is always a domestic buffer of fuel available for defence purposes, without the government having to own and store all that fuel itself. The cost and logistics are shared with (and compensated to) the private sector.