He blames panic buying for the fuel crunch we have seen in Australia in recent weeks.

He says he would normally distribute 10 million litres a week, but last week he did more than 13 million litres.

“Sales have increased by about 40 per cent and it’s going to put a real pressure on our stock that we hold in the ground,” he said.

“With diesel, we’re putting a truckload in, and by the time we turn around and go back, the truckload is gone the next day.”