Good piece but two points that should be noted as improving our capacity to handle another fuel crisis are;
1 The increased volume and value of energy (coal) exports that will offset the adverse impacts of energy price increases, and
2 The economy as a whole is less energy dependent than it was in the 70's and 80's so the flow through effects will be less.
And one might also suggest that a fairly robust market in home grown biodiesel might also develop if fuel prices continue to rise.

Briefly, I'd disagree that the economy is more fragile, it's much more flexible and able to adapt to changing circumstances than it was 15-35 years ago. If this doesn't apply so much to the rural sector, it's because of ongoing misguided attempts to maintain non-viable small farmers.

And as an aside, I note that "Ben Rees ... is currently involved in a QUT sugar industry programme." I hope that that program promotes the complete withdrawal of protection, subsidies and other support from the industry, and recommends that ethanol should be an issue purely for markets, not for government (except for taxing it like competing fuels to encourage economically efficient choices).