FUEL CRISIS: Cook Government steps in to shield airlines from Middle East fuel crisis

Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti, who chairs an Industry Support Working Group set up to manage the fallout from global fuel security challenges, unveiled several practical changes following consultation with the industry.

Regional airline passengers will be the immediate beneficiaries, with the government committing to cover the additional fuel costs hitting carriers operating under the Regional Airfare Zone Cap scheme, ensuring fares remain frozen at current prices despite jet fuel prices continuing to climb.

The support will extend to intra-regional routes considered critical to remote community access, including Aviar-operated services connecting Broome to Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek, as well as Kununurra to Halls Creek, Balgo and Kalumburu.

Nexus-operated services linking Geraldton, Karratha, Port Hedland and Broome will also be covered.

On the roads, the government is launching a three-month trial allowing larger road trains to push further south along Great Northern Highway than currently permitted.

Under the changes, 53.5-metre triple-trailer road trains, previously required to break down into smaller double-trailer configurations at Wubin, will now be allowed to continue south to Muchea, significantly closer to Perth.

However, vehicles must meet safety standards and drivers must hold a minimum of three years' experience behind the wheel of trucks of that size.

The trial is designed to cut the number of truck movements along one of WA's most important freight corridors, which connects Perth to the Wheatbelt, Murchison, Goldfields, Pilbara and Kimberley regions.

Fewer trucks on the road means less fuel burned, which is a meaningful saving at a time when diesel costs are under pressure.

The move follows an earlier decision to allow 27.5-metre and 36.5-metre road trains to carry up to an additional 10 tonnes per load when transporting petrol, diesel or fertiliser to priority regions.

Premier Roger Cook said the measures would deliver real cost-of-living relief for regional residents while strengthening WA's supply chain resilience.

"Ensuring airfares remain capped at current prices for regional residents will provide real cost-of-living support for those who need it," Cook said.

Saffioti said the government had listened to industry and acted quickly.

"We've rolled out common sense changes that will deliver fast results to improve productivity and fuel efficiency across our State's supply chain," she said.

The working group is also consulting with the dairy industry on further support measures and exploring the uptake of electric trucks across the freight network.