The halving of Australia’s fuel excise as part of last month’s Budget will save consumers 22 cents per litre at the bowser for the next six months, but the simultaneous scrapping of the 18 cents per litre fuel tax rebate on diesel is seriously impacting the trucking industry, with potential knock-on effects for consumers.
With a loss of 18 cents and a gain of 22 cents per litre, trucking companies should still come out four cents better off, but many truck operators have freight contracts with prices that fluctuate according to fuel prices, meaning they will be paid less for freight now that diesel is 22 cents per litre cheaper.
