SBS News · Thursday 16 April 2026
One of Australia's two remaining oil refineries caught fire overnight in Geelong, reigniting concerns about fuel security after decades of refinery closures reduced the nation's capacity from eight to two.
Eight refineries to two, and the surviving pair just caught fire. Thirty years of privatisation, deregulation, and strategic neglect, and the nation's fuel security now depends on a Geelong plant and a prayer. Menzies built Altona to guarantee supply during the Cold War. We sold it off to guarantee returns during the quarterly earnings call. Albanese's visiting the site — mate, bring a hard hat and a policy, not just the photographer.