There was plenty for grey nomads and wannabe grey nomads to mull over in yesterday’s Budget.
The phased-in increase in the qualifying age for an age pensioner stands out as one that will affect many a future Big Lap plan.
Of more immediate concern to those already out there on the road however will be all the talk of higher prices at the bowser. Changes to fuel excise from August 1 will cause the price of a litre of fuel to rise by the rate of inflation every six months.
Experts say that’s likely to mean a rise of about one cent per litre every year.
The fuel excise has been locked at 38.1 cents per litre since the Howard coalition government froze automatic indexation in 2001.
However, this extra excise cost will probably not be as significant as the effect of the predicted rise in global crude oil prices and the likely falls in the value of the Australian dollar … all of which will likely mean sharply higher fuel prices in the months and years ahead.
If there is a bright side to the fuel excise changes, it is that Treasurer Joe Hockey has promised ‘every dollar raised’ from the fuel excise indexation will be spent on building better roads as part of infrastructure growth package.
Some of the roads that grey nomads love to hate are set to benefit. There will be more money for Queensland’s Bruce Highway, the Pacific Highway duplication in New South Wales, the Midland Highway in Tasmania, and cash will also be spent on widening and ‘flood-proofing roads in the Northern Territory.
A 1c increase in fuel prices is not an issue considering the weekly/monthly variation in prices we experience now, and the huge variations between city and country prices. Maybe some people will have to slow down a bit more and stay a day longer here and there. It certainly will not stop us travelling.
Re one cent per litre wont hurt that much. If you lived in Cairns, I guarantee you would be spitting chips, where petrol is $1.59 all year round. No such thing as cheap petrol on Tuesdays.
Bev said:
“:A 1c increase in fuel prices is not an issue”:.It may be no problem for you Bev but a 1c litre soon adds up. There are big tanks in a lot of rigs. It will hitting my pocket that’s for sure.
The Seniors card sounds like it will be much harder to get, hope we still get to tuck into the cheap seniors meals at pubs etc
Talking to friends on pension, any rise at all hurts.
Just my/our thoughts
We are traveling around South Australia & see the fuel price range from 1.51 up to 1.64 we payed 1.53 @ Kapunda yesterday we’ll be heading west from here so we will be free camping longer to save more for fuel.
I will get up on my box again.
The petrol prices in the south east corner of the state are controlled by the two giant retailers. You know who I mean. Now if the pricing is not price fixing, then the sun will not rise tomorrow. The authorities should hold an investigation in to this matter.
How can petrol be $1.60 to day and drop to $1.49 tomorrow or conversely be $1.49 to day and go back to $1.60 tomorrow. Why would not an independent servo keep his price at $1.49? The reason could well be that the petrol companies must hold a gun at the independent operators so as if they do not follow the price variation they will be refused supplies. Make one wonder?????