Australia has long been synonymous with resource abundance — a country rich in minerals, energy, and hydrocarbons, including its own crude oil production. Yet today, it finds itself in the paradoxical position of scrambling for fuel, as disruptions to imports expose just how dependent the nation has become on refined products from abroad. Australia continues to produce oil domestically, with crude output around 320,000 b/d, yet its downstream dependency is overwhelming. In 2025, the country imported roughly 850,000 b/d of refined products…