Fuel excise relief ends as Jane Hume warns Australians will ‘feel the pain’ at the petrol bowser
Australians are being warned to brace for higher fuel prices as temporary fuel excise relief comes to an end.
Australians are being warned to brace for higher fuel costs from Monday as the Federal Government’s temporary fuel excise relief comes to an end, with the Coalition claiming motorists will soon “feel the pain” at the bowser.
Deputy Opposition Leader Jane Hume said the expiry of the relief would add to cost-of-living pressures already weighing on households, accusing the Albanese Government of failing to tackle the underlying drivers of inflation.
Appearing on ABC’s Insiders on Sunday, Senator Hume said while the Coalition had backed the temporary fuel excise cuts when global fuel prices were volatile, Australians were now paying the price for what she described as Labor’s broader economic failures.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Australians are going to feel the pain,” she said.
“The pain would have been lessened if we were a more resilient economy, and the government had done its fair share of the heavy lifting to get inflation down.”
Pressed repeatedly on whether ending the fuel excise relief was the right decision, Senator Hume declined to directly answer, instead insisting responsibility rested with the Government.
“It’s a decision for the government,” she said.
She argued Labor had failed to use fiscal policy to help curb inflation, instead leaving the Reserve Bank to shoulder the burden through higher interest rates.
“If the government would get inflation under control by doing its fair share of the heavy lifting, using fiscal levers to manage inflation, not just relying on monetary policy, we would be in much better shape when these international shocks occur,” she said.
Senator Hume also pointed to the Coalition’s longer-term fuel security policies, including plans to expand Australia’s fuel reserves, increase storage and refining capacity and support alternative fuels such as biofuels.
“That’s how you fix the problem,” she said.
The Government’s temporary fuel excise relief officially expires on Sunday night, meaning motorists are expected to begin paying higher prices at service stations as the full excise returns.
The end of the relief comes as Australians continue to grapple with elevated living costs, with petrol prices remaining a key contributor to household budgets despite easing from recent highs.
