CIAA fuel supply update
CIAA is working to ensure decision-makers understand the real impacts of fuel shortages on industry businesses, travellers & tourism broadly
Recently, Caravan Industry Association of Australia (CIAA) CEO Stuart Lamont was in Canberra meeting with ministers and key departments to ensure the industry remains front of mind as fuel supply challenges escalate. Stuart and CIAA shared this update.
We are actively communicating industry priorities to the Federal Government through our participation in the Austrade Visitor Economy Stakeholder Forum and direct engagement with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.
This work ensures decision-makers understand the real impacts on industry businesses, travellers and the broader tourism and manufacturing supply chain.
What we’re hearing
The latest intelligence from weekly Federal Government updates and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s fuel briefings points to a tightening outlook.
- Supply remains stable, for now.
- Demand is outpacing supply into fuel stations.
- A potential supply gap is emerging from May, due to reduced oil flows to Asian refineries.
- Australia is not expected to run out of fuel, but:
- We will likely pay more to secure supply.
- Cost pressures will increase across the economy.
Government response
The Federal Government has announced short-term relief measures, including:
- Fuel excise on petrol and diesel halved (April 1 April to June 30).
- Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge reduced to zero for the next three months, with the next scheduled increase deferred by a further six months.
- Agreement and release of a National Fuel Security Plan.
Support for small businesses
In addition to the above, the Federal Treasurer has also announced targeted relief for small businesses, including:
- ATO relief: Flexible payment plans, interest/penalty waivers and PAYG support for affected small businesses.
- A dedicated small business channel for access to relief provisions.
- The Small Business Responsible Lending obligation exemption has been extended for a further 10 years to improve access to faster and easier credit.
As we receive more detail on the specifics of these announcements, we will share them with you.
What’s next
We are engaging with the Fuel Security Taskforce to ensure our industry is recognised as ‘critical’ should conditions escalate. Our focus is on ensuring the taskforce fully understands the industry’s importance across tourism, manufacturing, housing and regional infrastructure.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely, advocate on your behalf and keep you updated as further developments arise.
This article first appeared in the Autumn edition of AccomNews. Click below to explore.
