MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
Senator WALKER (South Australia) (16:25): Every few weeks in this place, we seem to get another apocalypse from those opposite. Last week, it was one thing; this week, they've turned their attention to fuel, apparently. From tomorrow, Australians will continue to receive relief at the bowser, with a further temporary 16c-per-litre reduction in the fuel excise through to 2 August.
We know families, businesses and truckies are still under pressure, and, while fuel prices have come down substantially since the height of the Middle East conflict, we're not pretending everything is suddenly easy. That's why this government is extending support, while allowing a sensible, gradual return to normal settings. Let's be really clear: the original reduction in the fuel excise was always temporary.
It was introduced in extraordinary circumstances, when conflict in the Middle East sent global energy markets into turmoil. Nobody seriously believed that Australia was going to permanently halve the fuel excise—not us; not the coalition; not One Nation; not the experts; not even the people giving speeches about it today. What Australians deserve is honesty.
Fuel prices move because of a whole range of factors: global oil markets, refining capacity exchange rates, conflict overseas and competition between retailers. Pretending that every cent Australians pay at the bowser comes down to whoever happens to be sitting on the Treasury benches is bonkers. Now, does that mean that people aren't doing it tough?
Of course not. I spend plenty of time talking to young families, apprentices, tradies, nurses, teachers, shift workers and people in regional communities. I know fuel costs matter.
If you live outside a major city, driving isn't optional. If you're a tradie, your ute isn't a luxury. If you're a nurse finishing a night shift, you're probably not catching the tram home.
That's exactly why we've extended this support. For someone filling up a typical 65-litre tank, this extension is worth around $11 every time they fill up. This is money that stays in the family budget instead of disappearing into the fuel tank.
And we're not just supporting motorists. We're also reducing the heavy vehicle road user charge by the same amount over the same period, helping truckies keep Australia moving, because, when freight costs go up, every Australian feels it at the checkout. This isn't a standalone measure, either.
From tomorrow, Australians will also receive another round of tax cuts. Alongside energy bill relief, cheaper medicines, cheaper child care, fee-free TAFE and stronger wage growth, this forms part of a broader plan to help Australians with the cost of living, because cost-of-living pressure isn't caused by one bill; it's the accumulation of everything. And that's where I think this debate really falls apart.
One Nation are happy to complain about government revenue on Monday, demand more spending on Tuesday and tax cuts on Wednesday, and, somehow, expect the books to be balanced by Thursday. That's indicative of a party that has never actually had to manage the economy. They see the world through headlines and slogans, without ever worrying about the consequences.
What we've done, instead, is to provide targeted relief while acting responsibly. Rather than switching off support overnight, we've chosen a sensible taper. This gives families a bit more breathing room, helps businesses plan and manages the flow at service stations at the end of the month.
At the same time, the ACCC is continuing to monitor fuel prices to make sure that these savings are actually passed on at the bowser, backed by stronger penalties and additional enforcement powers. We've also taken broader action to strengthen Australia's fuel security. We've invested in additional fuel storage, strengthened minimum stockholding obligations, expanded Australia's strategic fuel reserves, supported domestic production of low-carbon liquid fuels, invested in EV charging infrastructure and given the ACCC stronger powers to respond during future supply disruptions.
Australians don't expect governments to control world oil prices.