May 8, 2014

The RACQ has labelled reports the Federal Government is considering increasing the fuel excise in next week’s Budget as “appalling”.

RACQ Executive Manager Public Policy Michael Roth said the club fiercely opposed any rise.

“There is nothing fair about slugging motorists again while the trucking and mining industries continue to receive subsidies,” Mr Roth said.

“Heavy vehicles do almost all the damage to the roads yet they are charged a reduced fuel excise rate.

“If the government needs more revenue, the fair option would be to charge motorists and truckers the same.

“The fuel excise for motorists has been frozen at 38.1 cents per litre since 2001; the net amount for heavy vehicles is 26 cents per litre, and the rate for miners is zero.”