Overview
- The temporary federal fuel excise discount was withdrawn at midnight on Monday, restoring about a 17¢ per litre charge and returning the heavy vehicle road‑user charge to its higher rate.
- Retail data showed immediate small increases at the bowser with national unleaded up roughly 3.2¢ per litre, Sydney up about 2.9¢, diesel rising around 3.4¢, and average unleaded prices moving above $2 a litre.
- Treasurer Jim Chalmers wrote to ACCC chair Gina Cass‑Gottlieb asking for heightened scrutiny of pump prices and warned retailers that unexplained or misleading increases could attract fines of up to tens of millions of dollars.
- Consumer groups urged drivers to 'shop smarter' by choosing cheaper fuel grades where compatible, noting record price gaps between fuels—E10 and Premium 98 averaged a 30.5¢ per litre difference—and potential savings of about $17 on a 55‑litre tank.
- Analysts point to ongoing Middle East conflict as a key source of further price volatility and AAA sales data shows a surge in electric and hybrid vehicle purchases that could reduce fuel demand over time and reshape transport costs.