why fuel so expensive Page 425

Short version: oil is priced in USD, we buy most of it from overseas, and the AUD hasn’t exactly been doing bicep curls.

Layer on global crude swings, wars and OPEC cuts, limited local refining, shipping costs, and then Australia’s fuel excise plus GST.

Retail margins and the capital-city price cycle add drama—up like a kangaroo on Friday, drifting down till the next “gotcha” spike.

Regional areas pay more thanks to transport and thinner competition, and premium fuels always cop a bigger markup.

Shop by cycle timing, use discount dockets or apps, and don’t buy octane you can’t use; your wallet will thank you, eventually.