Aussie Fuel Prices Crack the $4-a-Litre Mark

Source: news.com.au | Fuel price nears $4 per litre in Arnhem Land. Picture: East Arnhem Regional Council

Fuel prices are already surging to nearly $4 per litre in some parts of Australia, with fears they could climb even higher as the Middle East conflict enters its fourth day.

Remote communities in the Northern Territory are among the hardest hit. In Ramingining, located about 560 kilometres east of Darwin in Arnhem Land, diesel is currently selling for $3.99 per litre.

Another Arnhem Land community, Milingimbi, is also facing steep prices, with diesel reaching $3.95 per litre.

Industry Minister Tim Ayres has accused the Coalition of fuelling unnecessary panic, labelling them “political war profiteers” whose warnings helped trigger panic buying.

Fuel prices have risen since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, with several Australian cities reporting long queues and panic buying at petrol stations earlier this week.

During a heated exchange in Senate Question Time on Wednesday, Mr Ayres said Australia’s fuel reserves were in their strongest position in 15 years.

“Scaremongering — far-right, extremist scaremongering — over there created people lining up at petrol stations when there was no need,” Mr Ayres said, gesturing toward the Opposition benches.

Turning to the Greens crossbench, he added that some had spoken about war profiteering before directing his criticism back at the Coalition.

“This show over here are political war profiteers,” he said of the Opposition.

Article Source: news.com.au |  Coalition accused of ‘extremist fear-mongering’ as Iran war hits bowsers, petrol prices surge