Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief) Bill 2026; Second Reading

Summary

This amendment temporarily lowers the excise duty (a tax) on petrol, diesel, and other petroleum-based fuels by modifying the Excise Tariff Act and the Customs Tariff Act. The government is making this change to help ease the financial burden on Australians caused by recent fuel price spikes linked to conflict in the Middle East. When you fill up your car or truck, you'll pay less tax on the fuel itself, which should reduce what you see at the pump during this temporary relief period.

What happens at this stage

The main debate on whether the chamber supports the broad purpose of the bill. Members speak to its overall merits and concerns rather than the fine print. The government outlines its policy intentions; the opposition and crossbench put their case. This is the stage that determines whether the bill proceeds at all.

Next: Consideration in Detail (House) or Committee of the Whole (Senate), where the bill is examined clause by clause