Article by James Morrow – National Affairs Editor courtesy of The Daily Telegraph
Australia’s richest person has called on the federal government to give the nation a “Christmas bonus” in the form of a petrol excise tax cut to deal with spiralling costs, as “woke agendas” threaten Aussie living standards.
“Every few dollars counts for people in tough times,” Mrs Rinehart told The Daily Telegraph. “With the stroke of a pen, the government could deliver minor short-term relief to millions by cutting the petrol tax for households.
“It could happen from the first of December and then, if you must, put it back to usual after Christmas – the longer after Christmas, the better.
“It’s an easy way to help families and the elderly for Christmas and the school holidays.
“No one is asking for a hand-out, we just need the government to take less money from Australians.”
Last March, the Morrison government halved the excise tax on fuel from what was then 44.2c to 22.1c per litre for six months as part of a suite of pre-election cost-of-living relief measures.
That relief was credited with keeping fuel price increases to a minimum at a time when global oil prices were spiking as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Although crude oil prices have come off earlier highs, a number of factors including a weak Australian dollar have meant motorists continue to suffer pain at the pump.
As of Wednesday, the seven-day average price of E10 fuel sat at $1.96 per litre, including what is now the full fuel excise tax of about 50c per litre.
“With high inflation and rising interest rates, all I keep hearing is that people in the bush and the cities need costs cut now more than ever,” Mrs Rinehart said. “I have long spoken out about Australians being overtaxed and overcharged by government, which has its roots in excessive government spending.”
Mrs Rinehart, who has led Hancock Prospecting since 1992, also said governments needed to cut red tape to encourage business investment and stop pushing “woke agendas” that were holding the country back.
“We teach children far more about cutting emissions and woke agendas than we do about mining that powers Australia’s economy and enables those Australians employed in the industry to have some of the highest wages in the world,” she said. “The resources industry contributes more corporate tax than all other industries combined.
“It’s mining taxes that pay for our government teachers, police and nurses, non-voluntary firefighters and emergency services.
“Something has to give if we want to maintain our envied living standards.
“It’s time for economic sense and common sense.”
