Politics Now Carrots, sticks and a gas profits tax
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Mar 31, 2026 They dissect the fuel excise cut and whether motorists will actually feel the $19 saving. The political tradeoffs between optics and economics get a sharp airing. Discussion of shifting politics from left-right to top-bottom and the rise of populist pressure. Debate over a parliamentary inquiry and the chances of a gas profits tax before the budget.
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Fuel Excise Cut Is A Short Term Sugar Hit
- The fuel excise cut is a short-term sugar hit that reduces current costs but won't fix inflation or underlying supply issues.
- Patricia Karvelas emphasised the cut lessens burden immediately yet won't erase higher baseline prices from the global shock of war.
Truck Driver Anwar Shows Real World Impact
- A truck driver called Anwar illustrated how diesel prices remain far above pre-war levels despite the excise cut.
- Patricia Karvelas used the caller's text: $19 back still leaves drivers paying about $40 more than a month ago.
Politics Is Now Top Versus Bottom
- Australian politics has shifted from a left-right battle to a top-versus-bottom fight, where voters feel the elites are against them.
- Raf Epstein argued politicians who frame policy as defending 'the bottom' gain more traction, explaining One Nation's rise.