Australia hit with $546 fuel bill per person as Middle East war disrupts supply
Middle East conflict disrupted fuel supplies; Australians paid an average of $546 extra per person since March, totalling $14 billion.
Fuel prices spiked when conflict disrupted Strait of Hormuz shipments from March. Australian motorists faced the third-highest cost increase globally, paying about $546 extra per person on average per the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
The national bill was $14 billion. Only the United States and Canada paid more per person, Americans $666, Canadians $597.
Australia imports more than 90 per cent of refined crude oil and is the largest seaborne diesel importer. The country relies heavily on diesel for mining, farming and freight over vast distances.
Australia increased diesel use 33 per cent since 2000 while the world cut it 30 per cent, uniquely exposing it. Electric vehicle owners saw much smaller cost increases; EV charging rose just $17 since March.
As Australians bought more electric cars to dodge fuel prices, EV loans doubled.
- $546 per person
- Extra cost per Australian
- $14 billion
- National bill
- Third highest (US $666, Canada $597)
- Global fuel price ranking
- More than 90 percent
- Imported refined crude oil
Why it mattersAustralia's heavy dependence on imported fuel means global conflicts directly raise cost of living for every motorist, truck driver and farmer.
AustraliaEvery Australian motorist paid an extra $546 on average since March due to Middle East conflict. The spike pushed inflation higher and prompted the Reserve Bank to raise interest rates, touching households across the country.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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