this post was submitted on 29 Mar 2026
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22
'Fuel is our home': How the petrol crisis is hitting Australian 'vanlifers' (www.sbs.com.au)
submitted 1 month ago by okwithmydecay@leminal.space to c/australia@aussie.zone
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[–] justincider@aussie.zone 26 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I wish the article had of started with the homeless woman living in Brisbane rather than the vanlifer from Ipswich.

This article was more about homelessness and the increased burden these people are enduring but it gave the initial impression that it was about people who couldn't go on holiday while they rented out their home, which is more like rage bait.

All that being said, it’s a shit situation for everyone mentioned. It’s a good reason in my eyes to not work till you can ‘retire’ and ‘do the big lap’ but instead change your lifestyle so you can travel and work as you go, if you want to see the country. Fuel is a finite resource, the writings been on the wall for decades that we won’t always be able to have this lifestyle.

As someone who spends a lot of time travelling around Australia going from job to job and exploring in between, I’m starting to get some real cognitive dissonance about even contemplating a trip for pleasure when there’s threats of farmers not having enough diesel. Its an ethical not financial decision for me.

[–] hanrahan@slrpnk.net 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

the writings been on the wall for decades that we won’t always be able to have this lifestyle.

since 1973 and some sort of ruction every decade since. We're stupid but it is what it is.

When the Greens bang on about reduced footprint, medium density housing, green spaces, food security and decent public transport that's all too much apparently.

I’m starting to get some real cognitive dissonance about even contemplating a trip for pleasure when there’s threats of farmers not having enough diesel.

For me that was being made aware of climate change 20+ years ago and the likely consequence of the collapse of civilisation vs the shits and giggles of driving aimlessly tjay seems a national past time.

i flew once last decade and that was to a very dear friend who had months to live and even then that made me feel dirty and I had to deal with issues of self loathing over condemning future generations from that decision.

I moved to where I wanted to be and mostly stay in place doing the things I enjoy. If we had decent electrified rail infrastructure I'd travel more.

as to the article

It's not right and it's sure as hell not the Australian way."

I'd suggest she's wrong, a thing is what it is. This IS the Australian way.

[–] Cypher@aussie.zone 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

This whole personal carbon footprint business you're having guilt trips over was propaganda from oil companies.

While you're feeling guilty the mining industry in Australia is burning 1.3 billion litres of diesel a year. The US military is burning over 15.8 billion litres of fuel a year.

Unless you're ultra wealthy and flying a private jet everywhere you are having absolutely zero impact and only the oil company lobbyists want you to believe otherwise.

[–] Nath@aussie.zone 3 points 1 month ago

Yes and no. My family's personal carbon footprint is negligible. And it's less than average because we reduce it intentionally. Let's say for example that we reduce our footprint by 40% (I don't know what the number is, but I wouldn't be surprised if it were around this). Big deal - 40% of an average family's greenhouse emissions is still 40% of bugger-all.

But now imagine three million families doing this. 40% of three million average families suddenly is a significant number.

[–] FreedomAdvocate -5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

In the 20+ years since you learned of “climate collapse” every single climate “emergency” has failed to eventuate despite nothing being done to address it. We were supposed to be all underwater a decade or 2 ago according to the “climate collapse experts” 🤣

The world has been hotter than it is now. Many times. It has been colder than it is now. Many times. Climate change theory, once called global warming, has been wrong literally every time. It’s never been right so far. I’m not holding my breath for them to be right this time, because according to them I already should be holding my breath due to Australia being underwater thanks to the ice caps melting completely.

[–] vividspecter@aussie.zone 3 points 1 month ago

These people (not the homeless but the vanlifers) should switch to EVs to tow their caravans. Unless they are trying to go to the most remote areas, they should be able to get by easily, particularly since taking slightly more stops is even less of an issue where you are just casually traveling.

[–] pHr34kY@lemmy.world 8 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Perhaps people who unproductively burn petrol and clog roads for a living should re-think their lifestyle.

Of all the people getting fucked by this shortage, these people can get fucked the most.

[–] Seagoon_@aussie.zone 6 points 1 month ago

what is wrong with you

people who drive for a living, be it trucks, buses, taxis, are making it so that fewer cars and trucks are built and on the roads

and those who live in vans, and cars, are using far less resources than those buying or living in houses