“Everyone needs urgent relief at this time of a cost-of-living crisis, so this was an essential move,” says Chief Executive, Julie White.
“But more will likely be needed because we could soon be paying $3.75 a litre even with the reduction, based on predictions at the weekend of the price reaching $4.
White says the price of petrol affects the price of everything hospitality businesses use, particularly food and beverage, and continuing hikes will only make a tough situation even tougher.
“They come after food prices rose 5.9% in the past year, with fresh fruit and veges up 15%.
“Hospitality and accommodation businesses simply cannot absorb the additional costs caused by petrol price hikes on top of those food increases as they continue to struggle as a result of the COVID downturn,” she says.
“Unfortunately, they will still have to put prices up, and that will hurt consumers and keep more of them away. It’s a vicious cycle.”
White says higher petrol prices also put a damper on people going out for a drink or a meal or travelling domestically.
“This is timely reminder to the Government on how it collects taxes because fuel is an essential commodity whose price affects every part of the economy.
“But it’s not just petrol prices and it’s not just now.”
She says the Government needs to deliver a broader plan that tells the hospitality industry what they will do to help alleviate cost pressures further out than the three months the reduction covers.
“It looks like this will get a lot worse before it gets any better,” she says.
“On behalf of hospitality staff who rely on public transport, we welcome public transport fares being cut in half.”
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