Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief No. 2) Bill 2026; Second Reading

Summary

The government is extending a temporary discount on fuel taxes to help Australians cope with high petrol and diesel prices. This amendment to the Excise Tariff Act and the Customs Tariff Act reduces the tax on fuel by 30.4 per cent (roughly 16 cents per litre) from 1 July 2026 until early August 2026, when the discount automatically expires and normal tax rates resume. Petrol and diesel are currently heavily taxed by the federal government, and this temporary cut puts money back in the pockets of drivers and businesses that rely on fuel, though it costs the government around $400 million in lost revenue.

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