The government has a plan. You need one too. Prime Minister Albanese addressed the nation recently with a clear message: the government has your back, but it can’t shield you from everything.

Here’s what he didn’t say: successive governments allowed Australia to become 90 per cent dependent on imported fuel. We closed refineries. We let strategic reserves run thin. And now we’re scrambling. The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed for over a month. Diesel is up 67 per cent since early March. Wholesale unleaded has jumped nearly 50 per cent in three weeks.

The government has halved the fuel excise and zeroed out the heavy vehicle charge. Some states are offering free public transport. All of it helps. None of it changes the core reality: this is going to hurt, and the businesses that move first will be the ones in better shape when it’s over.

Australia is currently at Level 2 of the National Fuel Security Plan. That means fuel is still flowing, but governments are actively managing supply and asking everyone to use less where they can.

If you own and operate a small business, here’s five things you should be doing right now

1. Own your position

Nobody is coming to save your business. That’s the hard truth few will say out loud. Could the government have moved faster? Plenty of people think so. But that debate won’t lower your fuel bill this week.

The excise cut helps and so does the freight charge relief. But now it’s on you, the business owner. Get clear on where you’re exposed. Fuel. Freight. Supply chain. Cash. Know what your 90-day runway looks like. And only buy the fuel you need. Every litre hoarded in a suburban garage is a litre that doesn’t make it to the farms, freight yards, and regional towns that run on diesel.

If your business is transport or logistics dependent, pay close attention to what triggers Level 3. That’s where the government moves from voluntary measures to targeted action. If conditions escalate, fuel access may be prioritised by sector. Not all businesses will be treated equally. Know where you sit in that order now, before it matters.

2. Stress-test your cash flow

Small trucking companies pay for fuel upfront and wait 30, 60, 90 days for payment. That’s the story for most SMEs right now. Costs rise instantly. Revenue lags behind.

Review your payment terms, debtor days, and cash runway this week. Invoice faster. Pursue payment harder. Cut the waste you’ve been tolerating. The gap between what you’re spending and what you’re collecting is about to get wider.

3. Know your margins and defend them

Understand your true cost position. Fuel, freight, materials – costs have moved and they haven’t finished moving. Know which products, services, and customers are making you money, and which ones you’ve been carrying.

Some prices will need to move. Some offers might need restructuring. Some work you’ve been doing at a loss needs to stop. Whatever you decide, communicate it early and honestly. The owners who front-foot these conversations will keep their customers. The ones who stay silent and overcorrect later won’t.

4. Lead your people through the storm

Westpac is forecasting headline inflation could hit 5.5% by mid-2026. They’re tipping three more rate hikes this year, pushing the cash rate to 4.85%. Your team is living that. Fuel is eating their commute. Groceries are climbing. Mortgage stress is real. If they’re distracted and stretched, your business feels it whether you see it or not.

You don’t need expensive gestures. Try flexible start times so they dodge peak fuel runs. Work from home where the role allows. A straight conversation: “Here’s where we are. Here’s what I need from you.” That earns loyalty money can’t buy.

This might also be the time where you need to make hard calls about roles, hours, or capacity. The owners who make those calls early and treat their people with honesty and respect through it, will recover faster when conditions turn.

If you avoid tough conversations today you might not get the chance to recover later.

5. Plan for this to last longer than you think

The fuel excise cut will last three months (at the moment).

The crisis is unlikely to respect that timeline. Even if the Strait reopens tomorrow, energy prices will stay elevated for months.

The RBA has already hiked rates twice. Treasury is modelling inflation in the high fours or low fives. Plan for a minimum of six months of elevated costs. Build your scenarios. What decisions do you need to make this month, so you’re not forced into worse ones when the temporary relief runs out?

As you sit down at the desk and look at the week ahead, aim to start it with a solid and well thought out plan. Pick up the phone to someone you trust, have a conversation and then get moving.

The best time to act was last month. The second-best time is this week.

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