Harry Pidd

Filled my ute with diesel tonight and paid over $3 a litre for the first time in my life. Every litre of diesel I purchased includes 52.6 cents in fuel excise and a 10% gst. The GST is charged on top of the excise, a tax on a tax. Oil prices have spiked sharply as a result of the Iran conflict. Fuel prices feed directly into inflation. Inflation creates financial stress and erodes living standards. Supply of oil and fuel is very uncertain. High prices act as a rationing tool initially, but the focus must be on sourcing stock to both replenish and expand reserves. We have heaps of leverage as a major exporter of gas, coal, iron, uranium etc. Once supply is sured up, it is fair to call for the federal government to reduce or eliminate the excise and GST on fuel sales in Australia. But tax relief without spending restraint does not remove the cost, it simply defers it, adding to debt that future taxpayers must service. Relief at the bowser must be matched by discipline in Canberra. If Treasurer Chalmers and the Labor Government care about the Australian people, they must take serious action to reduce both public spending and our tax burden.

I would note again that Ukrainians abroad are not burning down Russian cultural centers or Russian schools worldwide. Even though they certainly have plenty of reasons to do so. But “anti-Zionists” (sic!) burning ambulances in London just because they have a Star of David on it – that’s always on the table. That’s why I don’t believe in any “anti-Zionism.” It’s simply antisemitism that has once again become acceptable. I myself, to put it mildly, am not thrilled with Israel’s policies in recent times. And many people aren’t thrilled with U.S. policies either. So what – are people burning anything American in Europe? Not really.