Treasury Laws Amendment (Fuel Excise Relief) Bill 2026

The majority voted against an amendment to the usual second reading motion, which is "that the bill be read a second time" (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill). This means the usual text will remain as it is.

Amendment text

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) notes:

(i) the Albanese Government was the first government in the world to support President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu's illegal war and they bear some responsibility for the chaos it has inflicted on businesses and household budgets,

(ii) the need for additional short-term solutions such as free public transport and supporting uptake of electric vehicles and electric trucks, and

(iii) the need for medium-term solutions to electrify our economy and end our dependence on fossil fuels; and

(b) acknowledges that halving the fuel excise will give people some short-term relief, but financial pressures and economic vulnerability will persist until our economy shifts off its dependence on imported oil and on to renewable energy independence".