Aussie Fuel Crisis Imperils Elderly Care, Hurts Key Industries
Soaring fuel costs put Australian aged care, agriculture, construction, and waste services at risk. Unions call for government intervention to support workers and businesses.
Fuel price surges are taking a heavy toll on essential services and industries in Australia, with unions and industry groups urgently calling for government action to provide relief.
The crisis is putting elderly Australians in immediate danger, as rising fuel costs impact the ability of home care workers to reach vulnerable clients. Tradespeople, transport drivers, and workers in the agriculture, construction, and waste management sectors are also being hit hard, with some businesses scaling back operations and hesitating to hire new staff.
The Master Builders Association has already forecast a downturn in home construction this year, as builders struggle to absorb the surging fuel costs. Reports of small mining operations cutting back have also prompted calls for government intervention, similar to the JobKeeper wage assistance program introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Source: The Guardian
