Thousands of Australians are demanding the right for mandatory work from home as the nation stares down rising fuel prices amid the growing conflict in the Middle East.

Explosive new research shows 82 per cent of full-time workers want employers to be required to offer work-from-home arrangements wherever possible, according to Green.com.au.

The findings come as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese scrambles to contain the growing chaos, establishing an emergency fuel supply taskforce headed by former Australian Energy Regulator boss Anthea Harris.

‘Our fuel supply is currently secure. However, I want us to be over-prepared,’ Albanese said.

He said Australians had been panic-buying fuel, triggering shortages at some petrol stations.

‘Every ship scheduled to arrive has arrived. This is not a supply reduction – it is an issue of increased demand,’ he said.

Albanese said local shortages were still possible even when national supply levels remained stable.

‘Both things can be true. The expected amount of fuel can be in the country, but if demand doubles, or in some areas increases even more, shortages can still occur locally,’ he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) has established an emergency fuel supply taskforce

According to the NSW Government’s FuelCheck website, fuel prices have surged 39 per cent in just the past month.

With commuters paying the price, mandated work-from-home rights are emerging as a potential pressure valve to slash daily fuel costs for workers, many already struggling with the cost of living and rapid interest-rate rises by the Reserve Bank.

Primara Research director Peter Drennan said Mr Albanese had confirmed last year that people working from home saved an average of $5,000 a year, with a substantial portion of that coming from reduced commuting costs.

‘For workers driving to offices when they don’t have to, that could mean thousands of dollars in additional costs hitting their budgets.

‘If the government recognises this as a demand problem, mandating work-from-home rights where feasible offers an immediate way to reduce that demand.’

Mr Drennan said a work-from-home mandate could offer a dual solution.

‘People want to ease their own cost pressures, but eliminating unnecessary commutes also frees up fuel for essential services such as grocery transport, strengthening food security,’ he said.

Sri Lanka has ordered a nationwide four-day working week, giving public sector staff every Wednesday off as the country scrambles to conserve fuel amid fears of looming shortages.

Mandated work‑from‑home rights are emerging as a immediate pressure valve to slash daily fuel costs for workers

Nearly 90 per cent of the oil and gas shipped through the Strait of Hormuz last year was destined for Asia, the world’s biggest importing region, leaving countries heavily reliant on the route struggling to cope.

Across the region, authorities have imposed a string of austerity-style measures to curb demand.

Thailand is urging workers to ditch formal office wear for lighter clothing to reduce air-conditioning use, while Myanmar has restricted private vehicles to operating on alternate days depending on their licence plate numbers.

Bangladesh has brought forward Ramadan holidays for universities and introduced rolling blackouts to conserve energy, while in the Philippines some government staff must now work from home at least once a week.

Vietnam, meanwhile, is urging people to stay home where possible, cycle, car-share and use public transport instead of private vehicles.

Closer to home, the Victorian Greens on Thursday called on the Allan Government to make public transport in Melbourne free for the next month to provide immediate relief from cost-of-living pressures as petrol prices soar.

Leader Ellen Sandell said many people were feeling the pain.

‘Free public transport would provide huge relief to families, young people and renters who are already being totally smashed by rising costs,’ she said.

‘For workers driving to offices when they don’t have to, that’s potentially thousands of dollars in added costs hitting their budget. 

‘If the government recognises this as a demand problem, mandating work-from-home rights where feasible offers an immediate way to reduce that demand.’ 

Mr Drennan said a WFH mandate offered a dual solution.

‘People want to ease their own cost pressures, but eliminating unnecessary commutes also frees up fuel for essential services like grocery transport, adding to our food security,’ he said.