SYDNEY: Australia will halve a fuel tax to help motorists experiencing soaring petrol prices due to war in the Middle East, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday. Albanese announced the step after meeting with the leaders of Australia&#39;s states and territories on Monday, agreeing a plan to tackle fuel shortages as the war in the Middle East continues. Australia charges a sales tax of 52 cents on each litre of petrol sold at the pump, which will be halved for three months. The measure will cost the government $1.75 billion (Aus$2.55 billion), officials said. &quot;We are making fuel cheaper today because we understand that Australians are under serious pressure,&quot; Albanese said. Albanese&#39;s government has sought to reassure motorists that shipments of fuel continue to arrive in Australia, and petrol shortages in rural towns stem from panic buying and distribution bottlenecks. Victoria and Tasmania states have made travel on public transport free, and Albanese urged motorists nationally to do what they can to conserve petrol by driving less. &quot;The less fuel we use in the cities obviously the more we can redirect to regionals areas that are under pressure,&quot; he told reporters in Canberra. In New South Wales, state Premier Chris Minns said there were scores of petrol stations without any fuel, and the focus was on helping rural towns. &quot;If the situation gets worse, we will take extra measures,&quot; he said. Australia&#39;s national parliament on Monday introduced a bill to give powers to the government to underwrite the purchase of shiploads of fuel that will add to supply in Australia. Weekly data released by the government showed Australia has 39 days of petrol, a small increase on the previous week, and 30 days of diesel supply. The government will also reduce costs for trucks by cutting a heavy vehicle road user charge. The Fuel Check monitor showed average petrol prices had leapt from Aus$1.82 in February to Aus$2.48 on Monday in New South Wales, with diesel reaching Aus$3.&nbsp;

A car passes a sign displaying petrol prices at a petrol station in Sydney on March 30, 2026.

Australasia

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces a temporary halving of Australia’s fuel tax to ease soaring petrol prices and shortages caused by the US-Israel war on Iran.

Australia to halve fuel tax in response to US-Israel war on Iran

Muhammad Ibrahim

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is pursuing alternative oil supply routes through Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s Red Sea port of Yanbu as the widening Middle East conflict disrupts global energy flows and pushes international crude prices sharply higher.&nbsp;Officials say the move is part of Islamabad&rsquo;s effort to safeguard energy security after shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil trade, was effectively halted amid escalating hostilities linked to the US&ndash;Israel war with Iran.&nbsp;The disruption has sent shockwaves through global markets.&nbsp;&nbsp;Amid surging global crude prices, Pakistan raised petrol and diesel rates by Rs55 ($0.20) per liter this week, officials said. Authorities stressed the hike was unavoidable given disrupted energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz and rising international costs.&nbsp;International crude benchmarks surged this week, with Brent crude rising close to $93 a barrel and US crude climbing above $91, as traders scrambled to secure alternative supplies while shipments from the Gulf remain constrained.&nbsp;Nearly one-fifth of the world&rsquo;s oil supply normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz each day, making the closure one of the most significant threats to global energy flows in years.&nbsp;Against this backdrop, Pakistani officials say rising international prices left the government with little room to absorb the shock domestically.&nbsp;Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik said the government had already taken precautionary steps to preserve fuel availability while monitoring developments in international markets.&nbsp;&ldquo;Over the past few weeks, we have preserved petroleum reserves and maintained supply according to our available stocks,&rdquo; Malik said during a joint press conference in Islamabad.&nbsp;&ldquo;There is no doubt that we are going through extraordinary circumstances today,&rdquo; he added, noting that global fuel prices had increased sharply due to the conflict.&nbsp;Malik confirmed that Pakistan had approached Saudi authorities to explore the possibility of routing oil shipments through the Red Sea port of Yanbu in order to bypass disruptions in the Gulf.&nbsp;According to the minister, Saudi officials assured Pakistan that supplies could be facilitated through the port if required.&nbsp;Officials say such arrangements could provide Pakistan with an alternative energy corridor should instability continue to affect traditional maritime routes.&nbsp;Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said PM Shehbaz Sharif had personally reviewed the situation earlier in the day as the government weighed possible responses.&nbsp;&ldquo;The prime minister himself chaired a meeting today in which the situation was reviewed,&rdquo; Dar said.&nbsp;He said Islamabad was also maintaining diplomatic contact with foreign counterparts amid rising regional tensions.&nbsp;&ldquo;We have contacted the foreign ministers of other countries,&rdquo; Dar said, adding that Pakistan was working with partners to encourage de-escalation.&nbsp;&ldquo;We will have to see how long it takes to reduce these tensions,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the government was also examining the broader economic implications of the crisis, including its potential impact on Pakistan&rsquo;s imports and exports.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are also reviewing what impact the increase in prices will have on imports and exports,&rdquo; Aurangzeb said.&nbsp;He reassured the public that the country currently holds sufficient petroleum reserves and urged citizens not to panic as authorities formulate their response to the evolving situation.&nbsp;Aurangzeb added that PM Sharif had directed federal authorities to consult with provincial governments to ensure coordinated measures.&nbsp;Officials say Pakistan&rsquo;s strategy now focuses on securing alternative supply routes, protecting domestic fuel reserves and maintaining diplomatic engagement as the Middle East conflict reshapes global energy markets and threatens prolonged volatility in oil prices.

Business

Islamabad raises fuel prices amid global crude surge, citing disrupted Strait of Hormuz supplies. Authorities emphasize strategic alternative routes through Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port to secure energy, while monitoring economic impacts on imports, exports, and domestic stability

Articles tagged with "Petrol prices soared"

Australia to halve fuel tax in response to US-Israel war on Iran

Pakistan seeks Red Sea oil route as Gulf crisis disrupts supply