Fair Dinkum Builds’ Zeke Hansen, Herbert MP Phillip Thompson seek fuel relief

Passing on fuel costs to customers? Local tradies don’t have the same luxury.

Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson pictured with Fair Dinkum Builds Director Zeke Hansen, who has seen his monthly business fuel bills skyrocket as prices at the bowser increase. Picture: Shae Beplate.

It is not easy for three brothers to run their different Townsville businesses under the same roof sometimes, but one thing the Hansens definitely agree on is the business pressure caused by rising fuel prices.

The average price for diesel in Townsville increased by almost 40 cents within three months.

This is a problem for Kirwan builder Zeke Hansen, whose business has an eight month waiting list due to the demand in the industry.

Fixed prices provided to customers on the waiting list did not consider such a leap in fuel prices.

“Our fixed price contracts that we signed today are obviously fixed price,” he said.

“So it’s hard to judge what the future’s going to look like.

Fair Dinkum Builds Director Zeke Hansen, has seen his monthly business fuel bills skyrocket as prices at the bowser increase. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“We’ve just got to wear those costs which has taken its toll as well.

“We can’t pass those costs on.”

CDH Electrical and Refrigeration director Carter Hansen said the business was not able to able to pick and choose service stations to lower fuel costs, because it used a fuel card.

Fair Dinkum Builds Director Zeke Hansen, Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson, CDH Electrical and Refrigeration manager Carter Hansen and NQ Pluming and Drainage MD Rhys Hansen, have seen their monthly business fuel bills skyrocket as prices at the bowser increase. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Between three cars the electrical business travelled 1000 kilometres each week.

“Every job we’ve got to travel to and from, you’re driving all over Townsville every day,” he said.

“It’s almost to the point where you’ve got to pass it on to the customers but you just can’t do it unfortunately, it’s not fair on them.”

Diesel has increased almost 40 cents at Townsville fuel servos within three months, while unleaded petrol increased by 30 centres. Fuel is projected to rise even further in the next three months according to RACQ. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

NQ Plumbing and Drainage director Rhys Hansen said the fuel increase cost an extra $500 a week for his business across a fleet of eight vehicles.

“You just can’t put up your price for no reason,” he said.

“And I know fuel is a reason to put it up but I don’t know how to pass it on without losing customers.”

Mr Hansen did not believe switching the fleet to electric would be viable considering the business serviced as far as Mount Isa, which was 900 kilometres west of Townsville.

Herbert Federal MP Phillip Thompson said the livelihoods of 28 local families were connected to the Hansens’ businesses and would be impacted by cost of living pressures such as rising fuel costs.

He said the short-term solution was to cut the fuel excise which would offer relief of at least 25 cents per litre. That was temporarily legislated when the former Morrison Government was in power, but the relief expired.

“Times have changed, wars have continued, we’re seeing what’s happening in the Middle East right now,” Mr Thompson said.

“But that means you need to pivot and change and adapt to your policies.

“But you can’t adapt to a policy if you don’t have one.

“And that’s why this Prime Minister needs to talk to the Australian people.”

RACQ’s most recent quarterly report said fuel prices in most main regional centres in Queensland including Townsville and Charters Towers were lower than Brisbane, while Longreach sold the most expensive fuel, followed by Mount Isa.

Townsville’s unleaded fuel increased almost 30 cents to reach $1.98 in September, with diesel increasing almost 40 cents to $2.14.

Charters Towers average unleaded fuel reached $2.02 in September while diesel reached $2.17.

Fuel was projected to increase even further in regional Queensland in the next three months.

“This is based on the current production restrictions by Saudi Arabia and Russia remaining in place,” the report said.

Originally published as Fair Dinkum Builds’ Zeke Hansen, Herbert MP Phillip Thompson seek fuel relief