Originally published: Medianet, 18 March 2026
New research conducted over the weekend (14–15 March) by market research and strategic advisory firm Nature with support from Pureprofile reveals 9 in 10 Australians are anxious about potential repercussions – particularly fuel supply and price hikes – of the Middle East conflict.
Chris Crook, Managing Partner at Nature said the latest round of the ‘Nature Next’ research program found widespread concern amongst the 1,000 survey participants about fuel shortages as well as low confidence in the country’s preparedness for it.
“A staggering 97% are concerned about the reliability of Australia’s fuel supplies, including one-in-three who say they are ‘extremely concerned’,” he said.
“The majority (80%) of those surveyed don’t expect an end to the instability in the near-future,saying they expect there will be significant fuel shortages in Australia for the next few months.“
Dr Crook says that the findings point to a broader communications challenge for government, industry and brands navigating a climate of heightened public sensitivity. “As households look for stability and reassurance, the way government, industry and the media communicate about these issues will play a crucial role in shaping public confidence in the weeks and months ahead,” he said. “Clear communication will play an important role in preventing uncertainty from becoming panic.”
