‘Fuel price shield’: Opposition leader’s plan to cut petrol prices
Opposition leader Angus Taylor insists a plan to cut petrol prices will not add to inflationary pressures, instead being funded by a cut to the tobacco excise.
The Coalition have released their pledge to ease pain at the bowser for millions of Aussies as fuel prices surge due to the rising price of oil; under their plan, the fuel excise will be halved when the price of oil averages US$100 ($140).
Opposition leader Angus Taylor insists the Coalition’s plan to cut fuel prices won’t add to inflation. 9News
A halving of the fuel excise would shave 27 cents per litre off the price of fuel, it is claimed. The Coalition says this will save Aussies about $15 per tank of petrol.
At the start of the Middle East war, the federal government temporarily cut the fuel excise, but this ended in August, with concerns a continued cut to the fuel excise would add to already high inflation.
However, Angus Taylor told Today that the proposed cuts to the fuel excise would be “fully funded”, as it would work in tandem with a cut to the tobacco excise.
“It will save Australians at the bowser, it will provide relief at the bowser at a time when there’s great pain,” he said. “That’s the fuel price shield that Australians need right now.
Petrol prices have skyrocketed in recent days. 9News
“It is fully funded, so it won’t put pressure on inflation.
“We are taking money away from the criminal gangs [and] using that to fund a cut to the fuel excise,” he added, referring to the proliferation of cheaper, illegal tobacco on Australian streets, which is predominantly controlled by criminal organisations.
Taylor dismissed the concerns of health experts, who warned more Aussies would take up smoking if the price of legal cigarettes was lowered, which could lead to adverse health outcomes.
He said the fact that cheap, illegal cigarettes were already available, made these concerns a moot point.
“The health experts need to explain why they are okay with funding organised crime in this country, criminal gangs in this country controlling the tobacco trade,’ Taylor claimed.
Angus Taylor dismissed the concerns of health experts surrounding his plan to cut the cost of tobacco. AAP
“You can already buy a packet of cigarettes for $15 a pack or less. I mean, seriously, we can’t take those comments seriously.”
Under the Coalition’s proposal, the cost of a pack of cigarettes could fall to just $8.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not ruled out a cut to the tobacco excise, while One Nation has also promised to cut the tobacco excise.
Cancer Council Australia CEO Jacinta Reddan told nine.com.au in August that plans to cut the tobacco excise would have long-term consequences for Australians.
“This is not a political issue. It’s a basic public health issue,” she said.
“Australia has some of the world’s leading tobacco control measures in place that have saved lives.
“The rates of smoking have reduced significantly over the past decades, but still, today, 66 Australians will die from tobacco-related illnesses or cancers ... that’s 20 times the national road toll.”
We’d love to hear from you
