Dumb Bunny

Back in 2022 Scott Morrison and his coalition government halved the fuel excise for six months. This excise cut cost the government between 6 and 8 billion dollars to implement. Initially Scott Morrison was reluctant to implement an excise cut and played down the fuel crisis and costs as temporary off the back of the Ukraine war. Interestingly at the time, Morrison called fuel prices a global issue, saying “You don’t go and completely recalibrate your budget based on fluctuations in oil prices. They’ve gone up, they’ve gone down”. Angus Taylor also weighed in, saying “Australia cannot control international price spikes”. Ironic 🙄 considering An*us has been foghorning most of the blame this week for the fuel price hikes on Labor - not on “international price spikes”. Eventually Morrison backed down and halved the fuel excise due to mounting pressure. Initially there were savings at the fuel pump for consumers - but in less than 2 or 3 weeks fuel prices were creeping back up to pre-excise reduction levels. So what was happening? While there was some price gouging going on, the international competition for supply driven by the war in Ukraine continued to push global fuel prices higher. These rising costs largely offset any savings. People were paying just as much for fuel as they were before. The problem with cutting fuel excise is that it creates other substantial problems. It increases the likelihood of fuel shortages as people buy more fuel and stock up just like they did in the great toilet paper crisis of 2020. People panic when they think they are going to miss out on something. Which is what is going on right now. Joe and Karen down the road are buying fuel in bulk just in case - which is decreasing supply and making it appear like we are running low on fuel NOW. Cutting fuel excise could also lead to increased inflation as people with enough income spend more money on hoarding fuel. In 2022, people on higher incomes spent more money on the initial cheaper fuel while those on lower incomes bought what they could afford. A disadvantage for low-income earners straight away. Of course, in 2026, mining magnates like Gina Rinehart are screaming for a fuel excise cut from Labor. This is not because Gina thinks poor people deserve a break. Gina stands to save millions in the short term on cheaper fuel. Millions on top of her billion-dollar profits. While I didn’t hear her screaming for a cut in 2022 from the coalition, it is not people like Rinehart who should be benefiting - but in their angst-driven cost-of-living crisis, people tend to forget that those with the most will also benefit the most. It’s also interesting to note that Australia’s oil refining production has declined dramatically over the last two decades. Six of eight refineries shut down and converted to import terminals. Five of the six closures occurred during periods of coalition government. The remaining two refineries are Ampol’s Lytton site in Brisbane and Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery. Both are supported by government fuel security subsidies to remain open. Believe it or not m, we do currently have enough fuel in reserve. Two to three months’ worth. the government are working on coordinating shipments and distribution. What is going on at present is panic buying. This panic buying has been stirred up via vested interests for the purpose of creating chaos, division and fear. As usual. I will never forget the panic buying that ensued because people thought they were going to run out of food during the pandemic - and of all things - toilet paper. The shortages and the crisis were created by those who panicked and cleaned out supplies. There was never a food shortage. There was never a toilet paper shortage. People create these shortages via their responses to media fear mongering, dog whistling crises and culture war rhetoric. Exactly what is going on now.

Trump "Cuba is next, by the way. But pretend I didn't say that. Cuba is next."

"The world is watching America lose its moral compass and its global credibility," per the Hill. Do you agree?

Would you support this?

Trump: "You know, when I didn't get the Nobel Peace Prize. You gotta understand, I don't care. Norway has lost so credible. I stopped 8 wars. Stopping wars -- I think I do it the best. President Putin called me, he said, 'I can't believe you stopped this one!'"