Anthony Albanese has urged Australians not to cancel their Easter getaways amid escalating fuel pressures as he announced a cut in fuel excise. Source: Daily Telegraph.
A 50 per cent reduction of the excise would reduce the cost of fuel by 26.3 cents per litre, the Prime Minister told reporters yesterday, meaning a $16 reduction when filling up a 60-litre tank.
It came days after Treasurer Jim Chalmers ruled out cutting the excise, saying it was not being considered by the Government, despite pressure from the Opposition to do the same.
Mr Albanese went on to “encourage Australians who can, to take public transport, to help save fuel for the areas and industries that need it”.
He also announced the heavy vehicle road user charge – currently 32.4 cents per litre – would be temporarily scrapped to “help truckies continue their vital work for our nation”.
The planned six per cent increase will also be delayed by six months.
Asked later if Australians should reconsider their Easter road trips amid the uncertainty, Mr Albanese said: “People should enjoy their Easter, and it’s important as well that we keep the economy going.”
He continued: “Easter is an important time for tourism destinations, for jobs. They rely upon that. And I wish those people of faith as well a holy Easter. It’s an important time.”
Mr Chalmers, speaking alongside Mr Albanese, said the changes to the excise and road user charge were “timely”, “targeted” and “responsible”.
The Coalition has welcomed the move but decried it as “overdue”.
FULL STORY
Fuel excise to be halved, road user charge slashed: Albanese (By Ria Pandey and Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer, Daily Telegraph)