Young Australians Taking Extraordinary Measures to Cope with Fuel Crisis
Young people and those living in regional Australia are making significant changes to manage the ongoing fuel crisis. Many are cutting back on work because the cost of fuel to get to their jobs has become more expensive than the pay they receive for their shifts. From walking to the supermarket to carpooling with parents, cancelling Easter travel, and even turning down job opportunities, hundreds of young Australians have shared their experiences with triple j hack in recent weeks. These stories highlight the immense pressure that rising fuel costs are placing on already strained budgets.
On Monday, the federal government announced a temporary reduction in the fuel excise, which will save drivers approximately 26 cents per litre. However, given that prices have increased by more than 26 cents over the past five weeks, many drivers are still far behind where they were before the conflict in Iran began. The government has not yet introduced any new measures to help with the broader cost-of-living crisis, aside from this temporary fuel excise adjustment and existing initiatives such as mid-year tax cuts.
Fuel Too Expensive for Long Commutes
In the small town of Pura Pura in Victoria, 28-year-old Tam Stevens has quit her job because the cost of fuel to drive up to two hours to either Melbourne or Ballarat is now higher than what she earns. “It doesn’t make any sense, so I just thought I’m not doing this anymore,” she told hack this week. She is now considering whether to access Centrelink or work on her partner’s wheat and sheep farm—a major shift from her previous contract-based work in finance.
“It’s not my forte or area of experience, but I guess I’ll be picking up the tools,” she said with a laugh. The situation is not only affecting her job but also her partner’s farm, which has faced supply issues with diesel. “So, they’ve actually rationed us without even telling us,” she added.
Disability Support Worker Struggles with Rising Costs
In Sydney, 24-year-old disability support worker Izzy Van Der Vliet does not earn extra money when driving long distances to see clients. One of her clients lives about 40 minutes away, and the trip takes two hours of work. With current petrol prices, she is unsure what to do. She is considering not seeing that client due to the high cost of fuel, but it is a difficult decision.
“I don’t want to leave her without anyone because it’s really important she has these supports,” she told hack. While the federal government encourages Australians to use public transport to conserve fuel, for Ms Van Der Vliet, this is not an option in her current job. “If I could, I’d catch public transport to work, but I can’t because I need my car to drive clients places,” she explained.
Fuel Consuming 10% of Take-Home Pay
Luke Barbuto moved to Newcastle from Sydney in hopes of being able to afford a home. However, the drive to his job at a winery in the Hunter Valley is now taking a growing portion of his income. He walks or carpools where possible, but he cannot work from home, as suggested by the government in some cases. “[I] can’t exactly pick the grapes from the lounge room,” he said. “It’s basically consuming about 10 per cent of my take-home pay now with how much I’m driving and the cost of fuel.”
Treasurer Jim Chalmers stated that the fuel excise cut was intended to support regional Australians, who often have to drive long distances. What are your experiences with rising fuel costs? How is it impacting you or your business?
