As a trained economist, I find one part of Australia’s current fuel debate surreal. Fuel supplies are tightening. Service stations are running dry. Governments are talking about supply disruptions, emergency imports and contingencies for essential users. And into that situation comes the predictable LNP popularist cry: cut the fuel excise. Make petrol cheaper.It might be a good political sound bite. But it's not smart economics.When something's in short supply, making it cheaper is an irrational

This blog piece, imo, explains well why a fuel excise cut is the wrong way to go in a fuel crisis that is only going to get worse and also provides numerous actions the govt can take (and should have taken before this) to help people with transport.

  • MisterFrog@aussie.zone
    0·
    1 month ago

    It’s because Labor is now a centre right, tax cutting government, sadly.

    I think they’re so worried about the optics of rationing they’re trying literally everything else.

    And painting themselves into a corner because it’s not like they can increase the excise again until the war is over now…