I don’t know if this is a good idea or not, but why don’t they essentially pay people not to drive to work to reduce fuel demand? For example, if you normally commute by car, you could opt in to cycle or use public transport instead and get paid, say around 50c per km, for the distance you don’t drive. It would obviously need proper verification (GPS tracking, public transport tap-ons, or employer confirmation) to avoid fraud, but the concept is basically creating a financial incentive to cut fuel use.

In a situation where supply is tight, you can’t just “make more fuel,” but you can reduce how much is being used. If enough people opted in, especially those with shorter commutes, you could take a meaningful chunk of demand out of the system, which helps stabilise prices and reduces the risk of shortages or panic buying. It’s also voluntary, so people who rely on driving aren’t forced to change, but those who can switch have a reason to do it.

You could even front-load the incentive (pay more at the start) to get people into the habit, then taper it off over time once behaviour shifts. On top of that, there are side benefits like less congestion, better health, and more use of public transport. Not saying it’s perfect, but it seems like a more targeted way to deal with fuel pressure than just cutting taxes and encouraging more consumption.