Rudd ignores Labor premier’s call to cut fuel excise
4th September, 2008
Labor’s wall of indifference to the plight of motorists crumbled slightly today with the Tasmanian Premier calling for a cut in federal fuel excise – but Prime Minister Kevin Rudd still doesn’t want to know.“I asked the Prime Minister in Question Time about the comments by Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett and whether Mr Rudd would adopt the Federal Coalition’s plan to cut fuel excise by five cents a litre,” said the Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Transport Minister, Warren Truss.
“Mr Rudd acted as if he hadn’t heard me, and gave an answer that bore absolutely no relation to the question. Given his uncaring and frankly disastrous approach to this most important of issues for all Australians, I was not really surprised.
“But the Prime Minister owes it to the nation to at least make a serious attempt to reduce fuel prices, since he promised to lower prices before the election. So far all he has done is pledge to watch prices as they rocketed to record levels.
“The Coalition reduced excise in 2000, froze the excise rate at 38.14 cents per litre in 2001 and has put forward a policy to reduce that level by another five cents, driving down inflation and reducing cost of living pressures.
“Until today, Labor leaders around the country sneered at us. That was until community pressure finally got to Mr Bartlett.”
Mr Bartlett was quoted in today’s Launceston Examiner ahead of a fuel summit today, where he was asked if he expected the issue of fuel excise would be raised. He said: “If it comes out of fuel summit – and I believe it will then we should be lobbying hard for that. I’ll be lobbying hard for that.”
“This is belated recognition of the size of the problem facing motorists and industry in Australia today. I only wish someone in Labor’s ranks in Canberra was listening,” Mr Truss said.
