Growing fuel uncertainty is hitting rural and fisheries businesses across regional Queensland, potentially costing them thousands in lost production and much higher operating costs.
Dozens of fishing trawlers have been stranded as a result of Australia's worsening fuel shortages, which some have described as the worst they have ever seen.
Australia's consumer watchdog is watching fuel companies as prices surge past $2.50 a litre, driven by a Middle East war that has pushed global oil to nearly $US120 a barrel.