WA: Petrol price inquiry unnecessary, says Cowan

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2000
WA: Petrol price inquiry unnecessary, says Cowan

PERTH, Aug 22 AAP - A national petrol price inquiry was unnecessary because the problem
was simple - excessive government excise, West Australian deputy Premier Hendy Cowan said
today.

The federal government has refused to cut the excise on petrol despite soaring prices,
blaming oil-producing nations.

However, Mr Cowan said there was no reason why the government should not set the fuel
equalisation tax at a fixed rate and remove CPI, thereby reducing petrol prices.

"I think it's appropriate that that excise be removed," Mr Cowan told Perth radio 6PR.

"We don't need an inquiry into that. People know just exactly what the problem is -
the government take on fuel is too high and if you have very high crude prices that exacerbates
that problem, then something has to give.

"There has to be a tax on fuel to go into roads, but the thing to do is make sure that
that's where it goes and that fuel is not just seen as a revenue earning bonanza for all
governments."

Petrol prices have risen in recent days to more than a dollar a litre in some areas.

AAP alm/cjh/ i

KEYWORD: PETROL WA COWAN

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