• •The Australian government's six-month fuel excise cut has officially ended, effective immediately.
• •The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) has confirmed it is actively monitoring service stations to prevent potential price gouging.
• •It remains uncertain how quickly retailers will pass on the full cost increase or if fuel companies will attempt to artificially inflate margins during the transition.

Australia’s temporary reduction in fuel excise has expired, resulting in an immediate restoration of the full tax rate at the pump. This move follows a period of elevated cost-of-living relief, a policy measure previously introduced to curb record-high inflation in the energy sector. However, the Guardian notes that officials are now tasked with preventing opportunistic price hikes, a common occurrence during sudden market shifts. Whether fuel retailers comply without passing on excessive costs to consumers remains to be seen as the market adjusts to the higher tax baseline.