The Australian federal government quietly developed contingency plans for retail fuel rationing earlier this year, including a rule to cap how much fuel a single vehicle could purchase at a service station within a 24-hour period, according to documents obtained under freedom of information laws. The plans, drawn up between February and March during the early weeks of a fuel supply crisis triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran, were described as a "worst-case scenario" by the government, which has publicly insisted rationing would not be necessary. The disclosure comes as the International Energy Agency warned that global oil markets will enter the "red zone" by August as stocks dwindle due to Middle East export shortages, adding to pressure on Australia, which has since secured additional fuel cargoes and announced a $10 billion fuel security package.