This paper investigates oil vulnerability in Australian cities and the implications of this problem for Australian urban planning and planning elsewhere. The paper has four objectives. First, the paper investigates the changing global petroleum supply context and potential future supply trajectories. Second, the paper uses the notion of 'oil vulnerability' to investigate how such a changing global petroleum context might impact on cities and suburbs, with a focus on the Australia setting. Third, the paper examines current Australian planning practice to test whether metropolitan plans are addressing global petroleum supply questions. The paper concludes by setting out the planning research and practice challenges and responsibilities for urban scholars and educators, both in Australia and elsewhere, in responding to the changing global petroleum context through engagement with pedagogy, policy and public debate.