Welcome back to Newslist for Week 5! Here, we cover and note some major events that have taken place both nationally and internationally over the past week.
Three weeks into the war in Iran, the global oil shortage it triggered has clearly revealed major interference to countries heavily dependent, Australia and New Zealand included. The Strait of Hormuz is a route that provides for roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply. Following its shutdown, as of Thursday, 19 March 2026, oil prices spiked at US $114 a barrel for the first time since 2022, the normal price being around US $60 by late 2025. The International Energy Agency has since then announced a coordinated reserve release of 400 million barrels.
As a country that imports 90% of its petrol, panic buying ensues in Australia. It is reported that petrol stations are starting to run out of fuel — 107 stations in NSW specifically, have run out of diesel. As of Thursday, 19 March 2026, Prime Minister Albanese appointed Anthea Harris, former Chief of Energy Regulator, as the new national fuel supply coordinator, following an emergency National Cabinet meeting. Naturally, speculations on fuel rationing have circulated, with expert of energy policy, Prof. Samantha Hepburn, stating, “Our short-term buffer will obviously not survive.” This week, ABC reports that Australia’s emergency stockpile only secures 36 days worth of petrol supply, 29 days worth of jet fuel, and 32 days worth of diesel.
Following fuel shortages, online rideshare platforms DiDi and Uber have increased their prices, and payment to drivers. This Wednesday, DiDi has raised its prices by five cents per kilometre, meanwhile Uber is set to raise its prices at 6% all over Australia per Monday, 23 March 2026.
In other news, around 08:00 Friday, 20 March 2026, a man confronted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke for the government’s stance on the Israel-Palestine war during their visit to an Eid prayer in Lakemba Mosque, Sydney. Protesters then came to his support, chanting “shame”, “disgrace”, “genocide supporters” and “get them out of here”. 33-year-old Mukhlis Mah was later escorted out by the NSW Police. After 15 minutes, the pair eventually left.
Coordinators of the prayer, Lebanese Muslim Association, later released a statement on their official Facebook page. Part of it states: “When leaders enter our mosque, they do so in the presence of a community that is informed, engaged and unafraid to speak plainly. We do not open our doors for appearances. We do so because real conversations require access, and because our community deserves to be heard directly, not spoken about from a distance.”
They continued, “Our position on Gaza and Lebanon is clear and unchanged. We continue to stand with those suffering, to call for justice, and to advocate for an end to violence and the protection of innocent lives. Engaging with government does not weaken that position. It strengthens our ability to express it where it matters most.”
In separate developments this week, the UK government has finally addressed controversial plans that would’ve allowed artificial intelligence companies to train using copyrighted music and other creative works without permission. The proposal included an opt out system, which would have required artists to explicitly refuse for their work to be used as training material, this is said to be the government’s ‘preferred option’. Upon its introduction in December 2024, the plan was immediately met with outrage by the creative industry. Notable protests were made by Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, and Dua Lipa – among many. A silent album titled ‘Is This What We Want” including veterans such as Kate Bush, Cat Stevens, and Annie Lennox alongside 1,000+ musicians was also released back in February 2025 as a protest. On Wednesday, 18 March 2026, Liz Kendall, Technology Secretary of the UK government, vaguely acknowledged the backlash with, “We have listened”, indicating that the government currently has no preferred option.