There’s good news for mad hoarders searching the nation for jerry cans despite Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s assertion that their conduct is “unAustralian.”
Retailer Bunnings has revealed they haven’t sold out, despite the Prime Minister’s false claims on Friday; they are just running a little low due to panic-buying.
The bizarre behaviour of Australians who have rushed to Bunnings has led to empty shelves and some wild claims in recent weeks.
“People going to Bunnings and buying out all the jerry cans – that is unhelpful. “That is un-Australian,” Energy Minister Chris Bowen said.
Then, Anthony Albanese poured fuel on the jerry can bin fire on Friday, when he said the retailer had “run out of jerry cans”.
“That’s not the Australian way. People need to take what they need, and no more,” Mr Albanese said.
“I was with the head of Bunnings just last week, and had a discussion with him; they’ve run out of jerry cans.
“That’s not sensible. People need to act responsibly at this time.”
Now Bunnings has put its foot down, possibly involving a weathered Blundstone boot, contacting news.com.au to insist that the Prime Minister’s comments are wrong and ironically likely to increase panic buying.
“Bunnings has not run out of jerry cans,’’ a spokeswoman insisted.
“There has been increased demand and stock levels differ between stores, but our team is working hard to ensure stock availability, as they always do.”
In other words, the Prime Minister’s comments were misleading.
Bunnings has reached out to news organisations to update readers.
However, a quick check of the Bunnings website reveals there certainly seems to be a mad run on jerry cans because they are sold out at a number of stores in NSW and the ACT.
Viral video
For a clue on why so many Australians are buying jerry cans, this viral video provides a clue.
Controversial social media prankster Willem Ungermann – also known as Willem Powerfish – filmed the male driver in the midst of filling up multiple jerry cans of fuel at Tweed Heads last week.
The camera then panned out to show the boot of the man’s car packed with petrol-filled cans, water containers and metal canisters.
“You gotta be kidding me, mate,” Ungermann says to himself, before yelling out to the man: “Hey, you going to leave any left for me?”
The man turns around and stares blankly at Ungermann as he continues to top up the jerry can.
“Hey! Don’t take all that fuel, mate. What about me?” Ungermann calls out to the man.
“Goddammit, he’s leaving nothing. He’s taking it all. Greed. You greedy man, you greedy man.”
Ungermann later wrote on Facebook that he found it “funny (the man) was driving with his whole car filled with fuel”.
“Maybe he has generators that run an aquarium breeding facility for baby flathead,” he added.
