AUSTRALIAN PETROL PRICES

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 30 September 1933, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN PETROL PRICES

TAX A BIG PERCENTAGE. /' HEAVY BURDEN ON MOTORISTS.

The petrol tax a gallon collected by the authorities in the Commonwealth of Australia is now beginning to assume a particularly high percentage of the price to the consumer. The tax, 7Jd a gallon, represents approximately 44 per cent, of the retail price of second grade petrol (Is od). In 1925 the retail price of petrol in several of the capital cities was 2s a gallon, and the tax Id, or 4 per cent. In July, 1926, the tax was increased to 3d, and petrol rose to 2s 3d a. gallon, the tax amounting to 11 per cent. In 1929 the duty was raised to 4d, and petrol sold at 2s„ Id a gallon, the impost thus amounting to 16 per cent. By 7 November, 1930, the duty was increased to 7d, plus 4 per cent, primage, the two amounting to 7)d a gallon. Petrol then sold at 2s 3d a gallon, and the duty 7 increased to 27 per cent. Today 7 , with first grad© petrol selling at Is 7cl a gallon, of which- 7Jd goes in tax, the Federal authorities are actually 7 collecting 39 per cent, of the money spent on petrol imported into the Commonwealth. On second gi 7 ade petrol, which is retailed at Is sd, the tax represents 44 per cent. These percentage figures are based on prices that include the petrol tax, but, as a matter of fact, the actual position to-day 7 is that motor vehicle owners are paying a 7)d tax, or 65 per cent., on llfd worth of petrol. It is interesting to note that the price charged to the garage men in capital cities by 7 the major oil companies on all second grades -is Is 2-id a gallon, consequently the Federal Government’s tax represents more than 50 per cent, of this price.