Australia to extend petrol price relief for motorists

Australia is set to extend temporary relief measures on petrol prices, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to announce. The government will continue to halve the federal petrol tax and cut the heavy vehicle road user charge throughout July, measures originally implemented in March.

These measures were introduced as a response to the significant increase in global oil prices, exacerbated by disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. With both temporary measures scheduled to expire at the end of June, their extension aims to provide continued support to motorists facing economic strain.

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We know people are still under pressure. We’ll continue to do what we can to shield Australians from the worst impacts of this conflict including securing additional fuel from our partners.

Albanese stated that the government recognizes the ongoing financial pressure on citizens and is committed to mitigating the "worst impacts" of the conflict. He also mentioned efforts to secure additional fuel supplies from international partners. This decision comes at a time when the ruling Labor government is facing a notable shift in public opinion, having been overtaken by the far-right One Nation party in recent polls.

Regarding the broader geopolitical situation, Albanese welcomed the recent deal between U.S. President Donald Trump and Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian aimed at ending the conflict. However, he cautioned that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is not immediate, citing the presence of sea mines and general uncertainty about the resumption of normal trade routes. The Prime Minister emphasized that de-escalation is a positive step, but practical challenges remain.

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We welcomed the de-escalation, but the decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz doesn’t mean that it immediately opens. There are sea mines there. There is a great deal of uncertainty about how long it will take before normal trade resumes.