Sunrise host Nat Barr has summed up what millions of Aussies really think of a new taxpayer-funded ad urging motorists to do their bit during the ongoing fuel crisis.

The Albanese government’s ‘Every little bit helps’ campaign is set to play on television and appear on billboards across Australia from Monday at a cost of $20million.

The ads will encourage drivers to ditch their cars and use public transport or find alternative options like riding a bike, in an effort to reduce fuel consumption.

Barr clashed with Tanya Plibersek during a fiery segment on Monday after the Social Services Minister insisted the campaign would be a good investment.

‘Do you really Tanya?’ Barr asked.

Plibersek responded: ‘Yes, I absolutely do.’

Barr suggested the Albanese government could have promoted the message for free when their ministers appeared on TV or radio for an interview throughout the week.

‘We have a minister on this program on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,’ she said.

Sunrise host Nat Barr has blasted the Albanese government of its new 'Every little bit helps' campaign during the ongoing fuel crisis
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Sunrise host Nat Barr has blasted the Albanese government of its new ‘Every little bit helps’ campaign during the ongoing fuel crisis

Barr clashed with Tanya Plibersek during a fiery segment on Monday after the Social Services Minister insisted the campaign would be a good investment
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Barr clashed with Tanya Plibersek during a fiery segment on Monday after the Social Services Minister insisted the campaign would be a good investment

‘(Energy Minister) Chris Bowen wouldn’t come on this program for three weeks.

‘Now you’re going to spend $20million telling us to pump up our tyres.

‘Are people really going to watch this ad?’

Plibersek cited the wealth of misinformation on the internet to insist that Aussies will watch the ad.

‘People need to know where to go for the right information,’ the minister said.

‘And when you compare $20million to the $340million that the Liberals spent on the Unchain My Heart ads for industrial relations.

‘It’s a pretty small investment to give people believable, credible, detailed information about our national fuel security plan.

‘We’ve got at least 16 measures out there, including big investments like cutting the fuel excise in half, getting rid of the heavy vehicle user charge completely, releasing the reserve stocks of fuel.

Motorists can do their bit by checking their tyre pressure, taking off the roof racks if they don't need them and having less in their car boot
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Motorists can do their bit by checking their tyre pressure, taking off the roof racks if they don’t need them and having less in their car boot

Is the $20million ad worth it?

‘We’ve got cracking down on price gouging, giving the ACCC more powers to crack down on price gouging. We’re doing all of that. It’s important that people know that those actions are underway, and it’s important that people know where they can go for good information about what they can do to help.’

One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce mocked some of the government’s suggestions to conserve fuel, which include removing roof racks.

‘Every little bit helps, Barnaby,’ the minister replied.

Joyce continued: ‘After the statement to the nation of five minutes of nothingness, we get this ridiculous ad.

‘All it does is inspire people to go, “they have not this under control.”‘

The minister also assured that Australia has enough fuel, despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about to embark on his second visit to Asia within days to secure more supplies.

It comes amid concerns that Asian fuel producers may start to prioritise their own domestic markets if the ongoing war in the Middle East continues to affect global fuel supply.

‘We’ve got a month’s worth of diesel, jet fuel and petrol and we’ve got 57 ships on the way,’ Plibersek said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the new campaign as he prepared to return to Asia to secure more fuel supplies
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the new campaign as he prepared to return to Asia to secure more fuel supplies

‘We continue to have enough and receive enough fuel, but it’s a very wise precaution for the Prime Minister to be on these diplomatic missions to Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, just to remind our neighbours that we have a strong reliance on fuel from from them, just as they rely on us for natural gas, and that we are a reliable trading partner when it comes to energy security.

‘What we really need to see is for this ceasefire to hold and for the situation in the Middle East to be resolved diplomatically.

‘It’s had a very significant effect, not just in Australia, but around the world on fuel security and other goods like fertiliser.’

But Joyce disagreed.

‘We’re in a bit of strife now,’ he said.

‘We wouldn’t be having a stupid ad telling people not to use fuel if we weren’t confident that we had enough.’

Later on the program, Albanese defended the new campaign.

‘Prime Minister, $20million is a lot of money and people are telling us it feels like a waste,’ Barr told the Prime Minister.

‘I think this is the first time you’ve come on our show since this crisis began.

‘We would have had you on for free, and you could have told everyone to pump up your tyres and use less fuel.’

Albanese replied: ‘I’ve done press conferences just about every day, as you know, and I’ll do another one later today.

‘It is about keeping the economy going and giving people that direct information, which is so important at this point in time.’