Albo labelled hypocritical over skyrocketing petrol prices

Peter Dutton has used the shocking rates at the bowser to take a swipe at Anthony Albanese for failing to bring prices down despite criticising Scott Morrison for the same just two years ago.

Australians with full-time jobs are struggling to afford to go to work with the skyrocketing cost of fuel, prompting renewed calls for a cut to the petrol excise.

It comes as Opposition Leader Peter Dutton used the shocking rates at the bowser to take a swipe at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for failing to bring prices down despite criticising Scott Morrison for the same just two years ago.

“He talked a big game on cost of living and fuel prices before the election, but now he ignores questions about how Australian motorists are suffering at the bowser,” Mr Dutton said.

“Mr Albanese was happy to tweet pictures of fuel prices in 2022 – which were actually lower than they are now – but he’s strangely silent on the topic now.

“He’s been so obsessed with the Voice that he’s taken his eye off the ball when it comes to fuel costs and the cost of living pressures facing Australian families.”

Twitter post from November 23, 2021 by Anthony Albanese criticising then Scott Morrison’s government over petrol prices. Photo: Twitter

In a series of social media posts from his time in opposition, Mr Albanese accused Mr Morrison of letting petrol prices surge “on his watch” when Unleaded 95 was at $196.6 -- significantly cheaper than the NSW average on Wednesday of $2.20.

In another post, Mr Albanese said “petrol prices are at record highs” and the “Morrison Government isn‘t doing a thing about it.”

“Household budgets are being squeezed at every possible angle under the Albanese Government,” Mr Dutton said.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton kept receipts. Picture: Martin Ollman

Penrith Community Kitchen secretary Gai Hawthorn said a temporary reduction of the excise, which could bring prices down by 20 cents, could help struggling families.

“We are blessed because we have the volunteer petrol vouchers but if we didn’t have them we couldn’t get volunteers to start with. It impacts right across. We get people coming to the kitchen who work two jobs, all their pay is going to their bills, like petrol, electricity,” she said.

“If petrol keeps going up people just can’t afford to get to work. It would help for sure, anything would help. At least (cutting the excise) is trying.”

Another old post from Albo. Photo: Twitter

Our Big Kitchen operations manager George Karounis said a fuel excise cut would make a noticeable difference but it was unlikely to happen.

“If there is an increase in petrol pricing, interest rates, we get inundated. People can’t even keep their cars going because of fuel costs, it’s starting to take a toll on people,” he said.

“I used to have a lot more volunteers who come and do deliveries and now they’ve cut to once a week, people can’t afford it.

“If it (the excise) drops off the average person would notice it straight away but they won’t do it.”

On Tuesday, Mr Albanese said the government does not “make tax policy on the run” when asked if he would consider a excise reduction.

“We understand that there are pressures in terms of cost of living, and we also know that globally, there’s been a huge impact on fuel and energy costs because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. That’s something that has impacted the entire world.”

A government spokesman previously ruled out an excise reduction as it would be too expensive to reintroduce.

Originally published as Albo labelled hypocritical over skyrocketing petrol prices