Fuel excise halved for three months | Evening News Bulletin 30 March 2026

Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.TRANSCRIPTPrime Minister Anthony Albanese says the fuel excise will be halved for three months, in response to rising prices driven by the global oil shock that has been triggered by conflict in the Middle East.A National Fuel Security Plan has also adopted by state and territory leaders after a National Cabinet meeting, a framework that will include reducing the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge to zero for three months, a move aimed at lowering fuel costs for trucks delivering essential goods.Despite the new measures, Mr Albanese has again urged people not to panic, saying Australia's fuel supply remains secure.He says halving the fuel excise - a tax on petrol or diesel that flows through to most motorists - will cut fuel costs by 26.3 cents per litre."We're making fuel cheaper today because we understand that Australians are under serious pressure Today, we take the next step to ensure Australia remains prepared."---Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he wants more certainty from the United States and Israel about their war objectives in the Middle East.He has suggested the objective of preventing Iran gaining a nuclear weapon has been achieved, and its military position substantially degraded.Mr Albanese also argues regime change has historically been extremely difficult to impose from the outside."Because military action against a nation will tend to promote nationalism within that nation