Fed: AAA accuses the government of making billions from petrol

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2000
Fed: AAA accuses the government of making billions from petrol

Australia's peak motoring body, the Australian Automobile Association, has accused
the government of making billions of dollars out of petrol taxes.

Association executive director LAUCHLAN MCINTOSH says petrol would cost about 53 cents
a litre if there was no tax, compared to current prices of about $1 a litre.

Mr MCINTOSH says government tax on petrol has been rising rapidly ever since indexation
of petrol was introduced.

And he says taxes have jumped again since the introduction of the GST.

Mr MCINTOSH says that if the fuel taxes returned to their level the day before the
GST was introduced, petrol would be three cents per litre cheaper.

He says that with petrol at $1 a litre, the government's excise and GST account for
about 47.2 cents a litre.

Mr MCINTOSH says the government could afford to freeze its next excise hike in February,
which will add another two to three cents per litre.

AAP RTV jg/rt/jn

KEYWORD: PETROL AAA (CANBERRA)

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