'It's all too hard': Fuel shock pushes regional businesses to the brink

Sharon Middleton says long-established businesses are closing amid the fuel price spike. (Supplied: Whiteline Transport)

Regional businesses are warning the global fuel crisis could impact consumers and industry for years to come despite a ceasefire in the Middle East.

Most industries in regional Australia have been affected by fuel supply problems and some businesses may even need to close up shop.

A decision from the federal government is expected next week on whether to continue halving the fuel excise and some road user charges.

Regional businesses say fuel relief measures need to be extended because the damage done from the fuel shock is far from over.

Sharon Middleton runs one of those businesses; for the past three decades her family company Whiteline Transport has moved freight from east to west across the Nullarbor Plain.

"I'm really very concerned and I'm already seeing businesses just say 'it's all too hard' and packing up and leaving really good family businesses that have been around for decades," she said.

Sharon Middleton is president of the South Australian Road Transport Association which advocates for the transport industry. (ABC News: Alina Eacott)

When the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran in late February, world oil prices hit historic highs.

The impact was immediate for Sharon Middleton's business as it takes 3,500 litres of diesel to haul freight return from Adelaide to Perth and the price of that fuel doubled overnight.

A move by federal government to halve fuel excise for all Australians and suspend road use charges for truckies provided short-term relief, but these measures are due to come to an end on June 30.

The reduction — implemented in March for a three-month period — effectively cut prices at the bowser by 26.3 cents per litre.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has yet to commit to extending the fuel excise rebate and a decision is expected next week.

Defence and national security consultant John Blackburn has been warning the Australian government for more than a decade about the country's vulnerability to oil shock.

"My concern right now is that whilst the minister says, 'don't you worry, we've got more fuel stocks than we had before the war,' he's not talking about what the next couple of years look like," he says.

"Because if you don't look at these scenarios, they may do something stupid like put the fuel excise back up without understanding the impact on Australian businesses.

Retired air vice-marshal John Blackburn has been lobbying for greater fuel security in Austral