Albanese says Australia vulnerable before fuel crisis as he announces $1bn in new loans for struggling businesses

Prime minister will tell National Press Club country must be better prepared for future shocks Track Australia’s fuel prices, service station outages and shipments in charts Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Anthony Albanese says the global energy crisis will not weaken Labor’s ambitions for urgent economic reforms, promising the May budget will fight inflation and deliver for Australians who feel the system no longer works for them. In a major address as the war in Iran wreaks havoc with the Australian economy, the prime minister will tell the National Press Club in Canberra on Thursday that the country was vulnerable before the current crisis and must be better prepared for future international shocks. “There is no security in maintaining a status quo that doesn’t work for people,” Albanese is expected to say, as laid out in a preview of the speech. “For our government, international uncertainty is not an excuse to delay, or hold back reform. It is the reason we must press ahead.” Announcing $1bn in new interest-free loans for businesses hit the hardest by fuel shortages and collapsing consumer confidence, Albanese will pledge to do everything possible t