Premier Cook Joins National Cabinet Today to Address Fuel Crisis and Economic Stability

WA Premier Joins National Cabinet to Tackle Rising Fuel Crisis

Today, Monday, 30 March 2026, Western Australian Premier Roger Cook is participating in a high-stakes National Cabinet session focused on the escalating fuel crisis and its impact on the cost of living. The meeting, which includes leaders from all Australian states and the federal government, comes at a time of heightened economic anxiety for residents in Perth and regional Western Australia as petrol and diesel prices continue to surge due to international supply chain disruptions.

The primary agenda for today’s session involves a coordinated national response to fuel supply challenges. Federal and state governments are under pressure to provide immediate relief to diesel-intensive industries, particularly the mining and agricultural sectors. The National Farmers Federation (NFF) has intensified its lobbying efforts today, calling for temporary tax relief and direct assistance for fertilizer purchases to ensure that the upcoming seeding season remains viable. Industry leaders have warned that a failure to secure fuel and fertilizer supplies could lead to significant food price inflation across the country later this year.

WA Government Defends Current Relief Measures

Ahead of today's discussions, Premier Roger Cook has addressed calls for further local interventions. While other states have faced internal pressure to offer free public transport to alleviate costs for commuters, the Premier has remained firm in defending Western Australia’s existing framework. He highlighted Perth’s historically low public transport fares as a sufficient buffer for commuters compared to the costs seen in other major Australian cities. The WA Government’s strategy remains focused on maintaining these affordable capped fares rather than introducing temporary free-fare periods.

In addition to transport policy, the Premier has focused on supply chain transparency. Following a recent session of the Security and Emergency Committee of Cabinet, the state government formally requested major fuel suppliers to disclose their stock hold positions in Western Australia. This move is intended to provide the government with the data needed to prioritize fuel distribution to regional and essential agricultural consumers if the crisis worsens. Currently, Western Australia remains at Level 1 of the State Hazard Plan, but the government has warned it is prepared to use emergency powers to compel information from suppliers if the situation escalates.

Local Governance and Upcoming Council Sessions

While the Premier represents the state on the national stage today, local government activities in the capital continue. The City of Perth is currently finalizing preparations for its Ordinary Council Meeting, which is scheduled to take place tomorrow, Tuesday, 31 March. That session will see the Lord Mayor and councillors debate local infrastructure projects and the city’s urban forest management strategies. Today's national decisions are expected to provide a backdrop for those local discussions, particularly regarding the city's operational budget in the face of rising energy and transport costs.

A press conference is expected to follow the conclusion of the National Cabinet meeting later this afternoon, where details regarding any agreed-upon financial assistance packages or national fuel security measures will be released to the public.