Oceania | Diplomacy | Oceania

Australian PM to Travel to Brunei and Malaysia to Secure Energy, Fertilizer Supplies

The trip comes days after the Australian leader brokered a deal with Singapore to ensure a continued flow of fuel and gas between the two nations.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong pose for a photo after signing a Joint Statement on Economic Resilience and Essential Supplies in Singapore, Apr. 10, 2026.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will depart tomorrow on a trip to Brunei and Malaysia, where he will attempt to secure supplies of fuel, fertilizer, and “other critical goods” to make up the shortfall caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

In a statement yesterday, Albanese’s office said the Australian leader will travel to Bandar Seri Begawan and Kuala Lumpur from April 14-17. In Brunei, he will meet with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in order “to discuss energy, food security, and the flow of essential goods between our countries.” While in Malaysia, Albanese will meet with Malaysian Prime ​Minister Anwar Ibrahim “to discuss the supply of fuel and other critical goods between our countries.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong will accompany Albanese and meet with her ⁠counterparts in both countries, before traveling onto Singapore for meetings there, the statement added.

“Engaging with critical ​regional partners such as Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia will help ensure Australia’s ​energy supply remains secure during times of uncertainty,” Albanese said in the statement. “We are taking every step to reinforce relationships and engage with key partners to keep our fuel ​supply flowing.”

Since the outbreak of the Iran war on February 28 and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Australia has experienced a sharp jump in prices that has prompted scattered panic buying and fuel shortages. While the government has provided a degree of relief by halving the fuel excise tax, with the collapse of the U.S.-Iran peace talks yesterday, the country, like many of its Asia-Pacific neighbors, faces a period of prolonged uncertainty in terms of its fuel and fertilizer supply.

While Australia does not purchase........

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