BREAKING: Albanese rejects fuel excise cut as petrol prices soar under his watch. $130.35 to fill a family RAV4. $233.60 for a Ford Ranger. And Labor’s still collecting a fortune in tax off every litre. Richard Marles just ruled out another fuel excise cut. “Not considering it” They’re “focused on other cost of living measures” and “managing the budget prudently” Meanwhile Sydney regular unleaded is already 237.8c a litre and heading into the mid 240s this week. The temporary cut they bragged about in April is gone. Halved in June. Finished in August. Here’s what that looks like at the bowser right now: Toyota RAV4, 55L tank: $130.35 to fill. $41.40 of that is fuel excise and GST. A Ford Ranger, 80L diesel: $233.60 to fill. $64.20 straight to Canberra. That’s not “relief.” That’s the government taking a massive cut while families and tradies cop the rest. Marles says there’s “light at the end of the tunnel.” The same tunnel that has the RBA about to hike rates again because of the inflation this conflict is feeding. Most other advanced economies already raised this month. We’re next. Remember when Albanese used to bag Scott Morrison for being “out of touch” on fuel prices? Liberal MP James Paterson asked the obvious today “what does $3 a litre diesel say about this Prime Minister?” The Coalition’s proposing an automatic price shield that kicks in when Brent crude averages over US$100. Targeted. Temporary. Triggered only when oil actually explodes. Labor won’t even look at it. They slashed the tax when it was politically useful, then quietly put it all back on while telling you to wait for the light. Fill up this week and watch how much of your money never leaves the servo.