Photo of a person filling a car with fuel

Interest-free loans

The Australian Government's Economic Resilience Program will provide interest-free loans to fuel, fertiliser and other critical supply chain businesses.

More information about these loans is coming soon. 

Fuel supply

Global fuel supply disruption

Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted fuel supply chains across the world. The Australian Government has confirmed that Australia’s fuel supply remains secure in the short term.

There may be local supply disruptions, particularly in regional areas. Industry and governments are working to fix this as quickly as possible.

Businesses don’t need to stockpile or hoard fuel. Just keep buying based on your ordinary needs. Stockpiling flammable liquids such as petrol and diesel can be dangerous.

Fuel excise halved for 3 months

To give some relief to the spike in fuel prices, the Australian Government will halve the fuel excise on petrol and diesel from 1 April to 30 June:

  • Halving the fuel excise will reduce the cost of fuel by 26.3 cents per litre.
  • This will reduce the cost of a 65 L tank of fuel by nearly $19.

Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge

The Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge has reduced to zero for 3 months. The next scheduled increase in the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge will also be deferred by 6 months.

This will help reduce costs for businesses that drive heavy vehicles (such as trucks) on public roads.

Monitoring higher fuel prices

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will continue to monitor fuel pricing behaviour.

National Fuel Security Plan

The National Fuel Security Plan coordinates a consistent response across the federal, state and territory governments.

The plan will keep the community and businesses informed and provides insights into any further fuel security measures that may be needed.

Supply chain and export impacts

The global supply chain continues to navigate the most significant period of instability and volatility for Australian exporters since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australian businesses should continue to plan for ongoing disruption across international sea and air freight, including:

  • higher freight rates
  • reduced service options
  • longer transit times
  • increased volatility across all major trade lanes, including Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

If you ship to or through the Middle East, you should:

  • engage early with your logistics partners
  • review your insurance coverage
  • tell your customers about potential delays and cost impacts.

Austrade’s Go Global Toolkit has regular updates about the impacts for Australian exporters.

Fertiliser supply

The Australian Government is monitoring fertiliser supplies and working with the industry to understand impacts and respond to issues.

Tax obligation flexibility

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will give temporary relief for businesses unable to meet their tax obligations because of fuel supply issues, where appropriate. This includes a tailored payment plan for businesses affected by the high price of fuel.

Accessing credit

To help small business owners, the Small Business Responsible Lending Obligation exemption will extend for a further 10 years. This will make it easier for small businesses to access credit if they need it.

What business owners should consider

As a business owner you, you should consider:

  • reviewing supplier contracts and freight terms, including fuel surcharges and delivery timeframes
  • building flexibility into inventory planning where possible to manage delays
  • monitoring fuel prices and transport costs, especially if operating in regional or freight‑dependent sectors
  • monitoring official Australian Government travel advice on Smartraveller if you have staff in, or travelling to, the Middle East
  • keeping an eye on parcel delivery costs and adjusting your shipping rates if needed. Many delivery companies are increasing their fuel surcharges in response to higher fuel prices.

Get help if you need it

If you’re struggling with finances, you can access free, confidential support from a financial counsellor. They’ll help you address your money problems and make a practical plan to get back on track.

If the current situation is impacting your mental health, you can access free support.