The article argues that any move by the Albanese government to impose fuel-saving measures due to conflict in the Middle East would provoke a public backlash shaped by lingering resentment from the pandemic years. While managing a genuine fuel shortage would be more defensible than many pandemic-era restrictions, Australians are now far more sceptical of government authority and less willing to accept sudden limits on daily life.

Public trust in major parties has eroded, with voter support at historically low levels. The government has sought to reassure Australians that restrictions are unlikely, but the article warns that such confidence could backfire if conservation measures like remote work, travel limits or fuel rationing become necessary. Leaders who downplay risks only to reverse course risk deeper political damage.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen is singled out as politically vulnerable if circumstances force a change in tone. The broader concern is that, after what many see as overreach during the pandemic, Australians would greet any new call for sacrifice with suspicion rather than solidarity. The article concludes that if restrictions are even a possibility, the government should begin preparing the public honestly now, because once trust is broken it is difficult to rebuild.