Protecting the Diesel Fuel Excise Rebate - Fuel Tax Alliance

In 2023, INDUSTRIAL was briefed by the Fuel Tax Alliance (a conglomeration of industries covering agriculture, mining, fishing, farming and tourism) to proactively protect the Diesel Fuel Excise Rebate, an essential rebate for regional Australia.

The Alliance understood that the Government was coming under pressure for Budget repair we noted that the Diesel Fuel Excise Rebate could well be targeted.

We noted the rebate had for years been incorrectly framed by those against the rebate as a ‘subsidy’ - and that descriptor had not been challenged by industry.

So working closely with research, INDUSTRIAL set about reframing the Diesel Excise Rebate.

We reframed the Diesel Excise more accurately as a road tax never intended for off road vehicles such as those used in mining and agriculture.

We also highlighted the fact that an end to the rebate would increase the cost in local food and energy production resulting in unavoidable increases to grocery and household bills.

The first phase of the multi-media campaign launched in Canberra, targeting policy makers and Canberra insiders at the first sitting week of 2023.

The result was the Government was immediately under pressure to rule out changes to the Diesel Excise Rebate -  and did so in response to questions in both the Lower House and Senate.