COST OF LIVING pressures are set to climb even higher from today as the temporary discount on fuel excise comes to an end – with fuel prices set to jump as much as 25 cents a litre.
Dr Jennifer Rayner, Climate Council Head of Advocacy. Location: Canberra, ACT
“The fuel excise was merely a temporary band-aid solution and did nothing to address the real issue of spiralling fuel costs in the longer term, which place even more pressure on top of sky-rocketing bills. It was short-sighted. What we really need is fuel efficiency standards.
“The fact is, Australians are being totally ripped off when it comes to how we get around. Our complete lack of fuel efficiency standards means we’ve become a dumping ground for some of the world’s most polluting, expensive and inefficient cars. Meanwhile, someone who drives an electric vehicle can save around $1,600 a year compared to a petrol car, but at the moment most Australians don’t have the option to buy them.
“The Australian Government has started the conversation with its National Electric Vehicle Strategy, but we need it to move quickly and decisively to catch up with much of the rest of the world. The longer we wait to put fuel efficiency standards in place, the more Australians will be exposed to fuel price spikes and harmful pollution.”
Note to editors:
- The fuel excise cut was always temporary and has cost the federal budget $3 billion in just six months.
- Transport is Australia’s fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions, plus the sector is our second biggest source of climate pollution, behind only energy and land use.
- A recent poll shows Australians want transport options that are better for hip pockets and the climate
- Fuel efficiency standards cover 80% of the global car market, yet Australia is one of the only wealthy countries without them.
- If fuel efficiency standards had been in place since 2016, Australians would have already saved $5.9 billion in fuel costs, and we would have avoided the need to import 4000 megalitres of fuel.
- Just 2% of Australia’s light vehicle fleet is made up of electric vehicles, compared with over 17% of cars in Europe.
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For interviews please contact Brianna Hudson on 0455 238 875