Drivers are getting some financial relief at the pump.
The federal government has confirmed that the fuel excise will be halved for three months, slashing the price of petrol and diesel by 26.3 cents per litre nationwide – including here in Central Victoria.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the measure yesterday, following a meeting of state and territory leaders as part of National Cabinet.
Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters, who sits with the Labor government, is among those backing the measure.
“This is timely, targeted relief to help take some of the pressure off local household budgets,” Ms Chesters said on social media.
The Coalition has also welcomed the move, after last week calling for the excise to be halved from 52.6 centres a litre.
In a statement released on Friday, March 27th, Member for Mallee and Nationals MP Anne Webster said doing so would be a “practical” step to ease cost-of-living pressures on families.
Essentially a tax on road users, the excise helps fund infrastructure projects such as highways and is paid for every time motorists fill-up.
But with the cost of petrol and diesel at record highs as a result of conflict in the Middle-East, many Central Victorians are struggling to afford that tax on top of their regular fuel bills.
The reduction of the fuel excise will take effect from tomorrow (Wednesday, April 1st) and be lifted on June 30th.
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