Doctors demand government break fossil fuel grip as Middle East tensions hit health and wallets

Clinicians are turning up the heat on the Albanese Government, signing an open letter demanding a rapid shift to clean energy. They warn that Australia’s reliance on global oil is inflating living costs, wreaking havoc on public health and care delivery, risks that have intensified as conflict in the Middle East rattles fuel markets.

Dr Kate Wylie, GP and executive director of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA), which spearheaded the open letter, said “Our dependence on global oil is exposing Australians – especially those in outer suburbs and rural areas – to rising costs for fuel, groceries and mortgage repayments, as well as physical and mental health harms.

“Financial pressure contributes to sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues- and as doctors we’re seeing these in our communities.”

The strain is not abstract. Dr Sarah Koffmann, a rural GP in Central West NSW, recounted a colleague’s weekend ordeal driving hours across the countryside in search of petrol.

“That is the reality of rural healthcare delivery right now. Rural communities are already stretched for healthcare options. When you can’t afford private fees or the petrol to drive over two hours to an appointment, the options don’t just shrink, they disappear,” explained Dr Koffmann.

“This is what oil price volatility looks like in a rural GP waiting room. Australia has the sun, the wind, and the policy levers to fix this. Electrifying transport and investing in rural infrastructure would cut our exposure to global oil markets and keep people healthier. That is not aspirational. It’s a choice the government could make. Why aren’t they?” she questioned.

Wholesale electricity prices for the National Electricity Market (NEM) nearly halved in the December 2025 quarter, driven by record renewable generation supplying more than half of total energy needs for the first time.

The latest Quarterly Energy Dynamics report from the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) shows wholesale electricity prices averaged $50 per megawatt hour (MWh) across the NEM, a $39/MWh (-44%) reduction from Q4 2024 and a $37/MWh (-43%) decline from Q3 2025.

AEMO Executive General Manager of Policy and Corporate Affairs, Violette Mouchaileh, said the quarter marked a significant milestone for Australia’s energy transition.

“This is a landmark moment for the NEM. For the first time, renewables and storage supplied more than half of the system’s energy needs for a full quarter,” Mouchaileh said. “It reflects years of sustained investment and demonstrates that more wind, solar and battery capacity in the system reduces reliance on higher cost coal and gas generation, placing sustained downward pressure on wholesale electricity prices.”

Dr Wylie highlighted that petrol is more than an economic problem, it’s a health hazard. Burning fuel increases risks of heart and lung disease, cancers, and pregnancy complications. Fossil fuels also drive climate change, escalating heatwaves, extreme weather, and infectious diseases.

“Australia has a clear alternative to polluting fuels. A shift to clean energy, powered by our abundant sun and wind, would reduce our reliance on polluting fuels, while more investment in electric transport infrastructure, would especially help rural communities where the reliance on cars is greatest,” said Dr Wylie.

“Accelerating clean energy is not about technology but about political will. Renewable energy already supplied record generation in the last three months of 2025. Health professionals call on the Albanese government to put the needs of the community first- no matter our post codes,” she empahsised.

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