The Government has announced a 0.8 cents per litre (CPL) increase in the heavy vehicle road user charge (RUC), and an increase in the fuel excise tax credit to 18.8 CPL.
The RUC will increase to 27.2 CPL on 29 September, coinciding with the increase in the in the fuel excise tax credit which Catherine King, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, said “will offset the impact for heavy vehicle users”.
“The road user charge is intended to recover the greater cost of maintenance and repair as a result of the use of heavy vehicles on our roads.”
The National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) said while the fuel tax credit restoration cannot come soon enough, the RUC is not so welcome and will add to the financial and regulatory burden that is already contributing to the exit of drivers from the road transport industry.
Warren Clark, CEO of NatRoad, said the increase in the RUC is from 26.4 CPL and is consistent with the National Transport Commission’s (NTC) recommendations earlier this year.
“While we acknowledge that the three per cent rise is less than half the inflation rate for 2021-22, it will still make life tough for truck operators.”
The annual change to the RUC comes following public consultation on the proposed increase which was undertaken by the NTC.
The previous Federal Government’s fuel excise cut also ends at midnight on 28 September, and NatRoad has waned the spike in diesel prices will be significant.
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