Without trucks, Australia stops. It’s a well-known sentiment throughout the country, but what happens when buses and coaches grind to a halt? Does the world turn upside down? Do people become aimless, lost, hopeless? In recent years, the bus and coach sector has proven to be a pivotal part of Australia’s fabric. When COVID lockdowns were first decided upon, public transport options like buses became vital ways of connecting isolated communities in times of distress. Essential workers could still get to their jobs, people to nearby family in need.
Amid the current fuel price issues that have torn across Australia in the early months of 2026, bus and coach has once again shone as an important choice for many. As patronage soars across the country, Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) executive director Varenya Mohan-Ram hopes governments are realising the power bus has in times of need.
“During COVID, the government needed the bus industry to both keep us moving and keep morale high around the nation,” he told ABC.
“We are now telling them not to forget us at a time that’s extremely trying for our organisations and industries. Our message is to not forget that the passenger transport sector, and the service we offer, is critical to this nation.”
Public transport has become more and more popular in recent weeks, especially when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s national address on April 1 urged Australians to take bus, train, tram and ferry trips in order to preserve fuel and diesel supplies. However, Varenya argues that if the public transport sector is to be leaned on again so heavily, it needs priority access to diesel supply.
“It’s well established that our industry is a critical party, so we have fought to be part of roundtable discussions taking place on fuel supplies and prices across the country,” Varenya says.
As the figurehead association for the bus and coach industry in Australia, BIC’s primary focus amid the fuel price rises has been to guarantee priority access to diesel supplies for the nation’s operators. Whether it be large urban transport companies or smaller charter and school bus businesses in regional spots, BIC has been consistently calling on the federal government to follow previous legislation and keep bus at the top of mind.
Varenya and his team have been pointing to the Liquid Fuel Emergency Act 1984, which listed public transport as an essential service that should receive priority access to fuel if there’s a national fuel emergency. He says it’s now time for the federal government to ensure public transport receives enough diesel to maintain services.
“By following the Act, we’ve argued that we need to be at the table to ensure our members, bus operators, are represented,” he says.
“Diesel needs to be prioritised for our industry so we can maintain our timetables and continue moving Australians arounds. If we aren’t prioritised, timetables may be changed when demand is high, resulting in some upset Australians who can’t move around freely.”
This call became more important when Australian states and territories began incentivising public transport travel to ease the burden on fuel supplies. In late March, the Victorian government made public transport free for the entirety of April, while the Tasmanian government introduced free fares for three months until July 1. A week later, the ACT government followed suit, halving public transport monthly fare caps from April 8 until June 30 to encourage more people to ditch cars and take buses and coaches.
While Varenya welcomed these measures that have already seen public transport patronage spike, he says this increased demand must be kept in mind when allocating diesel supplies.
“We welcome these cost-of-living measures, but we must ensure the industry is part of future fuel framework and discussions,” he says.
“We need to know what is happening so we can know what services we should put on and where to deploy buses – we want to be part of the solution.
“There are many towns where the only form of public transport is buses, taking kids to schools, the elderly to appointments and so on. We’re important and we deserve to be prioritised.”
The industry has been part of wider benefits introduced by the federal government in early April to combat the fuel price rises. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, prior to his April 1 address, announced the temporary halving of the fuel excise for three months while also removing the road user charge for the same period.
While this has provided some relief for operators, BIC has also been looking into diesel standards across the country to ensure the industry maintains its quality benchmarks.
The government has temporarily amended diesel quality standards to allow a lower minimum flash point level to support greater access to international supply options and facilitate higher levels of domestic diesel production. Under this measure, diesel with a flash point of 60.5 degrees Celsius may be supplied to the local market until September 30 this year, representing a temporary reduction from the current 61.5 degrees Celsius limit.
While this measure doesn’t change how diesel is classified under the Australian Dangerous Goods Code, and there are no changes to the existing safety requirements for transport with no adverse vehicle operability or environment impacts, Varenya says this has an impact on emissions across the country’s bus fleets.
“We’re focusing on reducing emissions, but if you change the sulphur content of diesel then you may risk damaging the emissions programs in these systems,” he says.
“We recognise this is currently a global issue and the government has significant priorities to balance, but it shouldn’t take away from the hard work and consultation we’ve been through to reduce emissions.’
For the rest of the industry, Varenya’s message is simple – stay calm and be part of the solution. He says panicking will take away opportunities for the bus industry to find fixes that stop the fuel pain.
“With this being a global problem, it’s important to be part of the solution,” he says.
“This means not panicking and being strategic in decision-making while communicating clearly. You can talk to local members and state politicians, as feeding up the chain is important, but communicating to staff is equally as important to let them know what plans you have in place.”
He says it’s also an ideal time to call for more drivers to join the industry and make a positive contribution to the lives of everyday Australians.
As the adage goes, sometimes the most challenging moments are the best opportunities to grow. Varenya is hoping the industry can find the positives in a tough time for many.
“While our networks are under the pump, Aussies have the opportunity to become a driver and add value to our industry,” he says.
“We all know how rewarding this industry is – let’s make it known to everyday Australians and show how bus transport is at the heart of keeping the nation moving.
“We’ll keep urging the government to not construct policy in isolation. We’re a great and resilient sector that have a track record of sticking together. We’re ready to work with everyone and find the best solutions.”
Extracted in full from: https://www.busnews.com.au/inside-the-bus-industrys-fight-to-secure-fuel/
