why are petrol prices so high in australia

Short answer: because the global oil market woke up cranky and the Aussie dollar isn’t exactly bench-pressing the greenback. International crude prices, refining costs, and shipping set the base, then our exchange rate can add a sting in the tail. On top sits tax (fuel excise plus GST), which doesn’t yo-yo daily but certainly keeps the price board honest. Capital cities also play the infamous discount cycle game, where prices climb, then tumble, then climb again like a yo-yo with commitment issues. Regional areas can be pricier thanks to less competition and higher transport costs. Toss in geopolitical wobbles and refinery outages and—boom—your servo coffee suddenly feels like a bargain.