THE NRMA's Western NSW director Graham Blight is highlighting a new report that suggests communities like Dubbo could run out of petrol, prescribed medication and refrigerated and frozen food in a week if "tankers stopped entering Australian ports tomorrow".
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A regular visitor to Dubbo, Mr Blight is part of the NRMA call for the federal government to move on reducing reliance on imported transport fuel that's jumped from 60 per cent to 91 per cent between 2000 and 2013.
Australia is the only member of the International Energy Association that does not meet its 90-day fuel stock obligation.
The new report has prompted the NRMA to suggest solutions to a potential crisis, including the production of alternative fuels, shifting of more freight to rail and retention of refineries.
"We do not want to scare people with our report, but facts are facts," Mr Blight said.
"We are approaching 100 per cent dependency on imported transport fuels."
The new report warns that if supply of imported fuel was disrupted, Australian petrol stations would run dry after three days.
After seven days pharmacies would cease dispensing drugs and supermarkets' cold storage would be empty.
"The government's National Energy Security Assessment will be reviewed again this year and it's the ideal time for new policies to be implemented that would ensure Australia's sustainability in the unlikely event of a disruption to our liquid fuel," Mr Blight said.
"We have held roundtables with industry stakeholders including unions, fuel companies and transport organisations who have agreed that we must urge the Australian government to take action."
But the report suggests that the nation does not need to wait on the review.
"We could get thousands of trucks off the road and ease the wear and tear on our regional road network by getting more freight on rail, also improving road safety," Mr Blight said.
The NRMA ambassador for alternative fuels and technologies advocated for them.
"We have the capacity in this country to produce alternative fuels including biofuels and gas," he said.
"The technology being developed for electric vehicles has advanced considerably in the past five years with the emergence of longer battery life, more charging stations and fleet trials by businesses and governments."
"There are answers right in front of us to help secure our transport energy future that complement larger scale solutions, such as stopping the closure of refineries and increasing our stock of oil within our boundaries."
The report reveals that Australia's five refineries could be closed by 2030.
The NRMA's Australia's Liquid Fuel Security: Part 2 report was prepared by Air Vice-Marshall John Blackburn AO (retired) and can be found at www.mynrma.com.au.
