Petrol prices are up, car use is down, public transport and electric cars are booming, yet Australians are buying petrol more often than ever. Bank data shows panic topping‑up, driven by fear, not need. In this episode of The Economy, Stupid, we explain why fuel demand barely shifts with price and what it will take to finally break our dependence on petrol and diesel.

Guests:

Adam Triggs, Economist at consultancy Mandala; Researcher at the Australian National University and the Brookings Institution.

Paul Burke, Energy specialist and long‑time researcher at the Australian National University.