THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

With the deadline looming on whether Australians can expect an extended discount on runaway petrol prices, Anthony Albanese continues to play his cards close to his chest. The fuel excise was cut by 32 cents a litre three months ago following the outbreak of war in the Middle East and ensuing strangulation of global oil supplies. A tentative truce this week has allowed cargo ships to resume transiting more freely through the Strait of Hormuz, but the loss of fuel supplies triggered by hostilities could take months to recover. How long the waterway stays open remains unclear. Asked whether the government was any closer to a decision on prolonging the excise relief, the prime minister was coy. "We'll be making a decision over the coming days about that and we'll announce it appropriately," he told reporters in Sydney on Saturday. The response was identical to the one he had offered the Canberra press gallery six days earlier. The excise cut is scheduled to expire on June 30, by which time it will have cost the federal budget an estimated $2.9 billion in foregone revenue. Pushed on whether he was concerned a call on extending the discount might re-trigger demand issues, Mr Alb…

Fuel excise extended but lower relief to come Motorists will benefit as a cut to fuel taxes is extended for another month, although at half the previous discount. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a scaled-back extension of the fuel excise reduction, meaning petrol and diesel will be 16 cents per litre cheaper in July than they would be without the discount. The current saving at the bowser is 32 cents per litre, brought into effect three months earlier in response to the conflict in the Middle East, which sent global oil prices surging due to the de facto closure of key shipping channel the Strait of Hormuz. The full discount will end after June 30, having cost the federal budget an estimated $2.9 billion in lost revenue. Mr Albanese said gradually scaling back fuel relief was the sensible thing to do. "We know that families are still under pressure and we also know that the impact of this conflict on the other side of the world will have a long economic tail to it," he told Sky News on Sunday. "There's still some uncertainty that oil prices come down this week. We want to see that flow through, but it will take some time." The prime minister said he would meet wit…

Albo extends fuel excise cut for another month - Daily Mail BySARAH BROOKES - SENIOR REPORTER, AUSTRALIAand AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Published:08:33 EDT, 20 June 2026|Updated:08:33 EDT, 20 June 2026 Viewcomments Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has extended the fuel excise cut for another month, making the decision 10 days before it was due to expire. The flat-rate tax was cut by 32 cents per litre three months ago after war broke out in the Middle East, disrupting global oil supplies. A tentative truce this week has allowed cargo ships to resume transiting more freely through the Strait of Hormuz, but the loss of fuel supplies triggered by hostilities could take months to recover. How long the waterway stays open remains unclear. The discount to fuel excise was scheduled to end on June 30, by which time it will have cost the Federal Budget an estimated $2.9billion in foregone revenue. But on Saturday night, Albanese announced that it will be extended into July. As a result, petrol and diesel will be 16 cents per litre cheaper than usual until August 2, reducing the cost of a 65 litre tank by about $11. In addition, the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge will be reduced by …

Motorists will benefit as a cut to fuel taxes is extended for another month, although at half the previous discount. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a scaled-back extension of the fuel excise reduction, meaning petrol and diesel will be 16 cents per litre cheaper in July than they would be without the discount. The current saving at the bowser is 32 cents per litre, brought into effect three months earlier in response to the conflict in the Middle East, which sent global oil prices surging due to the de facto closure of key shipping channel the Strait of Hormuz. The full discount will end after June 30, having cost the federal budget an estimated $2.9 billion in lost revenue. Mr Albanese said gradually scaling back fuel relief was the sensible thing to do. "We know that families are still under pressure and we also know that the impact of this conflict on the other side of the world will have a long economic tail to it," he told Sky News on Sunday. "There's still some uncertainty that oil prices come down this week. We want to see that flow through, but it will take some time." The prime minister said he would meet with state and territory leaders on Monday to disc…

Fuel excise cut: Albanese government extends petrol and diesel discount ... Fuel price cuts will be extended for a month beyond the original June 30 deadline, but the discount for July will be worth only half as much as it has been since April. On Sunday, the Albanese government will announce a 16¢-a-litre cut to the fuel excise starting on July 1, which will deliver a discount of the same amount to the price of petrol and diesel. A 32¢-a-litre excise discount began in April as a response to fuel prices hitting record highs in March due to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz on February 28, which choked off about 15 per cent of global oil supply. The heavy vehicle road user charge, worth 32¢ a litre, was abolished for three months. In July, it will also be reduced by 16¢. The staged reduction in fuel excise discounts is designed to avoid another round of panic buying, as motorists stock up on cheap fuel in the final weeks before the price cuts end. Record demand for petrol and diesel in the weeks after the war in the Middle East began caused widespread panic buying, and up to 600 services stations ran out of at least one type of fuel. Australia did not run short of fuel, b…

Fuel Excise Rebate Extended: What It Means for Drivers (2026) The Fuel Excise Rebate: A Temporary Band-Aid or a Strategic Move? There’s something oddly comforting about the way governments try to shield us from economic shocks, isn’t there? The recent extension of Australia’s fuel excise rebate, albeit at a reduced rate, is a classic example. On the surface, it’s a gesture of goodwill—a way to ease the burden on motorists as global fuel prices fluctuate. But if you take a step back and think about it, this move raises deeper questions about the role of temporary measures in addressing long-term economic challenges. The Numbers Game: What’s Really Changing? The federal government’s decision to extend the fuel excise rebate for another month, dropping the discount from 32 cents to 16 cents per litre, is a calculated adjustment. Personally, I think this is less about generosity and more about managing public perception. Yes, it’ll save drivers around $11 on a 65-litre tank, but what many people don’t realize is that this is a tactical retreat rather than a full-scale solution. The Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge, now also at 16 cents per litre, is another piece of this puzzle, but it’…

With the deadline looming on whether Australians can expect an extended discount on runaway petrol prices, Anthony Albanese continues to play his cards close to his chest. The fuel excise was cut by 32 cents a litre three months ago following the outbreak of war in the Middle East and ensuing strangulation of global oil supplies. A tentative truce this week has allowed cargo ships to resume transiting more freely through the Strait of Hormuz, but the loss of fuel supplies triggered by hostilities could take months to recover. How long the waterway stays open remains unclear. Asked whether the government was any closer to a decision on prolonging the excise relief, the prime minister was coy. "We'll be making a decision over the coming days about that and we'll announce it appropriately," he told reporters in Sydney on Saturday. The response was identical to the one he had offered the Canberra press gallery six days earlier. The excise cut is scheduled to expire on June 30, by which time it will have cost the federal budget an estimated $2.9 billion in foregone revenue. Pushed on whether he was concerned a call on extending the discount might re-trigger demand issues, Mr Alb…

Motorists brace for higher prices as fuel tax cut ends Australia is unlikely to extend the temporary halving of the fuel excise, as conflict in the Middle East breaks out ending the fragile ceasefire. Motorists and transport businesses are being warned to expect an end to a cut to the fuel tax as conflict flares up between Iran and the US. The fuel excise was temporarily halved by the Albanese government, slashing 26 cents off a litre, in response to soaring global oil prices caused by the war in the Middle East. The $2.5 billion measure is planned to run out at the end of June, as Transport Minister Catherine King indicated it would not be extended further. “We’re consulting, obviously, with industry about the impact of that, but people should at this stage expect that it’s coming off at the end of June,” she told ABC News Breakfast on Wednesday. “We are doing everything we can to shield Australians from this conflict in the Middle East.” King said the government’s most senior ministers, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, have all been working “incredibly hard” to secure Australia’s fuel supply by shoring up key international relationships with partner nations. The…

Fuel excise halved for three months | Prime Minister of Australia Following a meeting of the National Cabinet today convened by the Prime Minister, the Australian Government will halve the fuel excise on petrol and diesel for three months. The halving of the fuel excise will reduce the cost of fuel by 26.3 cents per litre. This will reduce the cost of a 65L tank of fuel by nearly $19. The spike in fuel prices as a result of the war in the Middle East is hurting Australians and causing financial stress. This will help to provide some relief. The halving of the fuel excise will commence from April 1 and run to 30 June. Further, the Albanese Government will reduce the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge to zero for three months to help truckies continue their vital work for our nation. The Government will also defer the next scheduled increase in the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge by six months. Australians are encouraged to use public transport wherever possible to help conserve fuel for the regions, and we welcome existing moves to cut the costs of public transport. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will continue to monitor fuel prices to help ensure that the low…

Poorer Australians will bear the brunt of higher prices at the bowser in coming days as a wartime fuel tax discount is partly wound back. The 32-cent-a-litre discount on petrol and diesel will be cut to 16 cents, from Wednesday before ending entirely at the start of August. The measure has aimed to reduce petrol bill shock amid ongoing negotiations to end the Middle East conflict. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz after US and Israeli strikes on Iran caused chaos on global oil markets and sent Australian fuel prices skyrocketing. That shock to household budgets was much larger for people on lower incomes than it was for wealthier Australians, according to a report by the e61 Institute. "Low-income households spend a much larger share of their incomes on petrol, meaning they are hit harder by price rises," economist Adit Maitra said. The research found Australians are more sensitive to petrol and diesel price rises than previously thought, with a 10 per cent cost increase correlating with a 3.8 per cent fall in fuel consumption. Scaling back the fuel excise would hit low-income households harder, but that did not mean the measure should remain in place, Mr Maitra said. The…

Motorists will benefit as a cut to fuel taxes is extended for another month, although at half the previous discount. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a scaled-back extension of the fuel excise reduction, meaning petrol and diesel will be 16 cents per litre cheaper in July than they would be without the discount. The current saving at the bowser is 32 cents per litre, brought into effect three months earlier in response to the conflict in the Middle East, which sent global oil prices surging due to the de facto closure of key shipping channel the Strait of Hormuz. The full discount will end after June 30, having cost the federal budget an estimated $2.9 billion in lost revenue. Mr Albanese said gradually scaling back fuel relief was the sensible thing to do. "We know that families are still under pressure and we also know that the impact of this conflict on the other side of the world will have a long economic tail to it," he told Sky News on Sunday. "There's still some uncertainty that oil prices come down this week. We want to see that flow through, but it will take some time." The prime minister said he would meet with state and territory leaders on Monday to disc…

Motorists will benefit as a cut to fuel taxes is extended for another month, although at half the previous discount. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a scaled-back extension of the fuel excise reduction, meaning petrol and diesel will be 16 cents per litre cheaper in July than they would be without the discount. The current saving at the bowser is 32 cents per litre, brought into effect three months earlier in response to the conflict in the Middle East, which sent global oil prices surging due to the de facto closure of key shipping channel the Strait of Hormuz. The full discount will end after June 30, having cost the federal budget an estimated $2.9 billion in lost revenue. Mr Albanese said gradually scaling back fuel relief was the sensible thing to do. "We know that families are still under pressure and we also know that the impact of this conflict on the other side of the world will have a long economic tail to it," he told Sky News on Sunday. "There's still some uncertainty that oil prices come down this week. We want to see that flow through, but it will take some time." The prime minister said he would meet with state and territory leaders on Monday to disc…

Australians to Save $19 Per Tank - Fuel Excise Cut Extended Until June ... For many Australian families, filling up the car has become a weekly strain on the household budget. But a new government move is offering some relief at the bowser, with motorists set to save around $19 per tank thanks to an extended fuel excise cut through June 2026. As petrol prices remain unpredictable, this temporary measure is being welcomed by commuters, small businesses, and regional drivers who rely heavily on their vehicles. Still, questions remain about how long the relief will last—and what happens when it ends. Here’s what you need to know about the fuel excise cut in Australia for 2026: However, this relief istemporary, and the full excise is expected to return after June unless further action is taken. Daniel, a delivery driver in Sydney, says the savings are adding up quickly. “I fill up three times a week. Saving nearly $20 each time means I can actually keep my business running without raising prices,” he said. Meanwhile, Lisa, a single mother in regional Queensland, says the cut has made daily life more manageable. “There’s no public transport where I live. Fuel is not optional—it’…

Motorists will benefit as a cut to fuel taxes is extended for another month, although at half the previous discount. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a scaled-back extension of the fuel excise reduction, meaning petrol and diesel will be 16 cents per litre cheaper in July than they would be without the discount. The current saving at the bowser is 32 cents per litre, brought into effect three months earlier in response to the conflict in the Middle East, which sent global oil prices surging due to the de facto closure of key shipping channel the Strait of Hormuz. The full discount will end after June 30, having cost the federal budget an estimated $2.9 billion in lost revenue. Mr Albanese said gradually scaling back fuel relief was the sensible thing to do. "We know that families are still under pressure and we also know that the impact of this conflict on the other side of the world will have a long economic tail to it," he told Sky News on Sunday. "There's still some uncertainty that oil prices come down this week. We want to see that flow through, but it will take some time." The prime minister said he would meet with state and territory leaders on Monday to disc…

Motorists will benefit as a cut to fuel taxes is extended for another month, although at half the previous discount. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a scaled-back extension of the fuel excise reduction, meaning petrol and diesel will be 16 cents per litre cheaper in July than they would be without the discount. The current saving at the bowser is 32 cents per litre, brought into effect three months earlier in response to the conflict in the Middle East, which sent global oil prices surging due to the de facto closure of key shipping channel the Strait of Hormuz. The full discount will end after June 30, having cost the federal budget an estimated $2.9 billion in lost revenue. Mr Albanese said gradually scaling back fuel relief was the sensible thing to do. "We know that families are still under pressure and we also know that the impact of this conflict on the other side of the world will have a long economic tail to it," he told Sky News on Sunday. "There's still some uncertainty that oil prices come down this week. We want to see that flow through, but it will take some time." The prime minister said he would meet with state and territory leaders on Monday to disc…

With the deadline looming on whether Australians can expect an extended discount on runaway petrol prices, Anthony Albanese continues to play his cards close to his chest. The fuel excise was cut by 32 cents a litre three months ago following the outbreak of war in the Middle East and ensuing strangulation of global oil supplies. A tentative truce this week has allowed cargo ships to resume transiting more freely through the Strait of Hormuz, but the loss of fuel supplies triggered by hostilities could take months to recover. How long the waterway stays open remains unclear. Asked whether the government was any closer to a decision on prolonging the excise relief, the prime minister was coy. "We'll be making a decision over the coming days about that and we'll announce it appropriately," he told reporters in Sydney on Saturday. The response was identical to the one he had offered the Canberra press gallery six days earlier. The excise cut is scheduled to expire on June 30, by which time it will have cost the federal budget an estimated $2.9 billion in foregone revenue. Pushed on whether he was concerned a call on extending the discount might re-trigger demand issues, Mr Alb…

With the deadline looming on whether Australians can expect an extended discount on runaway petrol prices, Anthony Albanese continues to play his cards close to his chest. The fuel excise was cut by 32 cents a litre three months ago following the outbreak of war in the Middle East and ensuing strangulation of global oil supplies. A tentative truce this week has allowed cargo ships to resume transiting more freely through the Strait of Hormuz, but the loss of fuel supplies triggered by hostilities could take months to recover. How long the waterway stays open remains unclear. Asked whether the government was any closer to a decision on prolonging the excise relief, the prime minister was coy. "We'll be making a decision over the coming days about that and we'll announce it appropriately," he told reporters in Sydney on Saturday. The response was identical to the one he had offered the Canberra press gallery six days earlier. The excise cut is scheduled to expire on June 30, by which time it will have cost the federal budget an estimated $2.9 billion in foregone revenue. Pushed on whether he was concerned a call on extending the discount might re-trigger demand issues, Mr Alb…

Major cost-of-living blow looms for millions as Albanese government ... By TESS IKONOMOU FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Published:21:04 EDT, 9 June 2026|Updated:21:28 EDT, 9 June 2026 47 Viewcomments Motorists and transport businesses are being warned to expect an end to a cut to the fuel tax as conflict flares up betweenIranand the US. The fuel excise was temporarily halved by the Albanese government, slashing 26 cents off a litre, in response to soaring global oil prices caused by the war in the Middle East. The $2.5 billion measure is planned to run out at the end of June, as Transport Minister Catherine King indicated it would not be extended further. 'We're consulting, obviously, with industry about the impact of that, but people should at this stage expect that it's coming off at the end of June,' she told ABC News Breakfast on Wednesday. 'We are doing everything we can to shield Australians from this conflict in the Middle East.' Ms King said the government's most senior ministers, including Prime MinisterAnthony Albanese, have all been working 'incredibly hard' to secure Australia's fuel supply by shoring up key international relationships with partner nations. …

Albanese signals fuel excise cut may be extended to help motorists paying more amid Middle East crisis <p>Prime minister flags an announcement following deliberations of cabinet’s expenditure review committee</p><p>Anthony Albanese has signalled the federal government is open to extending the temporary cut to the fuel excise to help cushion motorists from a months-long tail to the Middle East conflict.</p><p>The prime minister also welcomed the announcement of a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/14/trump-calls-for-restraint-israel-airstrikes-beirut-us-iran-peace-deal">peace deal</a> between the US and Iran to end the war and reopen the strait of Hormuz.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/15/anthony-albanese-fuel-excise-cut-petrol-prices-middle-east-crisis">Continue reading...</a>