Willcox Calls for Emergency Tax Cut as Regional Australia Feels the Burn at the Bowser

NORTH Queensland is approaching an economic standstill as a national fuel shortage leaves more than 500 service stations empty, exposing a systemic failure in national security that only an immediate tax cut can resolve.

Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, is championing the Coalition’s fully funded plan to provide immediate relief by halving the fuel excise for three months.

This 1.5-billion-dollar intervention would deliver a 26-cent per litre saving at the bowser, providing a critical lifeline for families, farmers, and transport operators currently stranded by a government that has been caught flat-footed.

"The survival of our regional economy is being sacrificed to a government that is more interested in ideological pet projects than the basic requirement of national fuel security," Mr Willcox said.

"Families and businesses in Dawson are paying more for everything, and now they are being hit at the bowser as well. Across our community, we are seeing local businesses struggling to stay on the road."

Mr Willcox said the Coalition's plan is a timely, targeted, and temporary measure to support Australians through a perfect storm of Labor’s home-grown inflation and escalating global fuel pressures.

"Our plan delivers a 26.3 cent per litre saving at the bowser today.

“This means an average household with two vehicles will save 180 dollars over the next three months.

“For a family that does a lot of driving, such as a tradie in a ute, this relief puts 50 dollars a week back into their budget. Even filling up a Ford Ranger would be 20 dollars cheaper every single time you go to the bowser."

The proposal also includes a corresponding reduction in the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge to ease pressure on freight and keep costs down across the entire economy.

"Australia’s trucking industry was already enduring a crippling crisis, with insolvencies skyrocketing at a rate of two businesses per day this financial year.

“For a truck operator, our plan would save around 390 dollars per week, or over 5,000 dollars across the three-month period."

The Coalition has identified sensible options to fund this relief without adding to inflationary pressure. The 1.5-billion-dollar tax cut is fully offset by ending the Electric Car Discount, reversing green hydrogen subsidies, and pausing the Home Battery Scheme to strengthen integrity controls. Previous fuel excise reductions have been proven to reduce headline inflation by approximately 0.25 percentage points.

"When a government cannot manage the basics, Australians pay the price,” Mr Willcox said.

“We will protect the Australian way of life and restore the standard of living for our regional communities, but that must start with immediate relief at the bowser and a government that gets fuel to where it is needed.

“The Government needs to act now to deliver this cost-of-living relief, because the people of Dawson cannot afford more delay or more excuses."

ENDS

Contact: Amanda Wright | Media & Communications Adviser
P | 07 4944 0662   M | 0455 456 705   E | Amanda.Wright@aph.gov.au