• 90% of Australian households have a car, while more than half of us have two or more cars.


• Petrol price increases under Labor are hurting families, small business and the elderly. But all Labor is doing is talking about a “Fuel Watch” scheme when they should be cutting tax.


• The Coalition proposal to cut 5¢ per litre in petrol excise will provide a real benefit to Australian families.


• A 5¢ per litre cut in excise will actually save 5.5¢ at the pump
  (because you won’t pay GST on that 5¢).


• An average passenger car, travelling the average distance(13,900 kms) with average fuel efficiency (11.4 l/100 kms) will save $87.15 per year.


• And because many typical families have more than one car (or do a lot of driving) they will actually save a lot more
  - upwards of $5 a week.


• This is not a “silver bullet”, but it’s better than the blanks Mr Rudd has been firing.

PETROL PRICES AT A GLANCE
(Australian Institute of Petroleum weekly petrol prices report)

Since the Rudd Government was elected, petrol has become more expensive - by 12.8¢ per litre.

November 2007
133.4 (Average weekly price to 25/11/07)


May 2008
146.2 (Average weekly price to 11/05/08)

Metro petrol is now 12.1¢ per litre more expensive in metro areas.

Regional petrol is now 14.4¢ per litre more expensive in regional areas.




Brendan Nelson, commenting on Labor’s FuelWatch Scheme
Budget Reply 15/5/08