Aussies slam Anthony Albanese over 'disgraceful' detail as PM jets to Brunei and Malaysia to secure fuel supplies

By KYLIE STEVENS, SENIOR BREAKING NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA and AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: 22:52, 14 April 2026 | Updated: 22:52, 14 April 2026 Anthony Albanese has been called out for wasting fuel by jetsetting overseas to secure long-term supplies while urging Aussies to conserve petrol. The Prime Minister flew to Brunei on Tuesday, just days after he travelled to Singapore, where he sought priority access to fuel supplies and guaranteed shipments of critical goods like liquified natural gas. He will sit down with Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, currently the world's longest-serving head of state, on Wednesday to discuss the oil crisis and firm up more supplies, before heading to Malaysia. Australia imports nine per cent of its diesel, 11 per cent of its crude oil and 11 per cent of its fertiliser-grade urea from the tiny sultanate, despite Brunei being a smaller fuel producer than Singapore and Malaysia Australia is also a large provider of food to Brunei, having supplied around three quarters of its meat imports in 2024. Albanese's second trip to Asia to secure fuel from other countries comes as his government launched a $20million 'Every little bit helps' campaign giving Aussies tips on how to conserve fuel. Sky News host Danica De Giorgio led the backlash, branding Albanese's latest travels as a 'desperation tour'. 'Anthony Albanese is on a plane, jetting worldwide, while using up fuel to do so, even though he has told us to conserve fuel,' she said.  Sky News host Danica De Giorgio branded Albanese's latest travels a 'desperation tour' The Prime Minister flew to Brunei on Tuesday, his second trip to Asia within a week 'Extraordinary hypocrisy, isn't it?' She added Australia would not be in the position it is in 'if the green dream wasn't running us dry'. 'The Prime Minister wouldn't have to be on this desperation tour if we could actually use our own fuel and our own backyard to fuel ourselves,' she continued. 'We've got gas, we've got coal, uranium. We are sitting on an abundance but instead of using them to our advantage, we export them elsewhere. 'I really think that our fuel supply crisis has been a comedy act.' Many other Aussies agreed, slamming Albanese for flying overseas.  'Albanese flew to Singapore. Came home. Now off to Brunei and Malaysia. Burning jet fuel. Why didn't he plan the visit to do all meetings on the first trip?' one fumed. 'This is the idiot who is telling Australians to take roof racks off and check tyre pressures. Couldn't plan a chook raffle.' The Prime Minister has been accused of hypocrisy after urging Aussies to conserve fuel (stock image) Another added: 'The deals (such as they can be) are already done. Albanese is wasting precious jet fuel for photo ops. Disgraceful.' A third wrote: 'Am I going insane? There's a critical fuel crisis and Albanese takes a private jet to Brunei.' Others pointed out Albanese also burned through up to 25,000 litres of jet fuel over a ten-day period in March as the fuel crisis deepened. 'Says the bloke who is addicted to the fuel-guzzling VIP jet. An utter hypocrite. Another week, this week on the jet,' one commented.  Another added: 'Albanese clocked up about 4,850km in air travel to visit five cities in ten days in Australia, burning an estimated 20,000-25,000 litres of jet fuel.  'Canberra to Singapore return is about 12,400kms. Do the maths. All for another "look at me and how great I am" photo shoot.' On Wednesday, Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong will also tour Brunei Fertilizer Industries and meet with chief executive Harri Kiiski as part of the government's push to secure long-term fertiliser stocks which have also been impacted by interruption of trade through the Middle East. The pair's visit is front-page news in the local newspapers, with the English language daily Borneo Bulletin reporting on a visit to 'strengthen energy and supply chain ties'. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.