Ben Small (Forrest, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Electoral Matters) Share this | Hansard source

It is so good that the Prime Minister has finally seen the light after being dragged kicking and screaming to axe the tax on fuel by the coalition. On Friday, of course, we announced our policy to halve the fuel excise tax for every Australian for the next three months, which is absolutely great news for the people of Forrest because the Prime Minister has joined us in axing the tax, saving Australians $0.26 a litre on fuel.

In recent weeks, I heard from Forrest locals who told me plainly that they needed help. Families, workers and small-business owners in a regional community like mine travel great distances, whether for work, business, family life or leisure. So, as fuel prices continue to rise, they were feeling the pinch. Prices at the bowser have increasingly started with a three. Indeed, in Bunbury I was standing there—$3.26 a litre for diesel on the weekend—with a tradesman who does 70,000 kays a year saying to me that he just didn't know how long it was sustainable to do so. That's to say nothing of the travel for work, school or medical appointments.

The stress placed on household budgets was real and it was felt right across the community. And that's why, as a member of the coalition, I listened, and we came to the table with a policy that delivers some $16 million in savings every single day at the bowser. And, finally, the government has joined us in giving Australians the break that they need.

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