Fed: Nationals fear increase to fuel excise in budget

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2009
Fed: Nationals fear increase to fuel excise in budget

The Nationals say they fear Labor may raise the fuel excise in next month's federal
budget .. with a need to boost falling revenue.

Nationals senator JOHN WILLIAMS says it'll hurt country people .. and has urged the
government not to see the fuel excise as a "soft target" due to lower world oil prices.

Senator WILLIAMS says the fuel excise climbed from 6.3 cents a litre to 34 cents a
litre under the Hawke and Keating governments .. while the Howard government froze it
at 38 cents a litre since 2000.

He says if the Rudd government increases the excise .. it'll particularly affect country
people who don't have the option of leaving the car at home and taking public transport.

AAP RTV srj/kms/tm

KEYWORD: PETROL (CANBERRA)

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