澳大利亚外交部长彭妮·王宣布联邦政府的燃油消费税折扣将在本周末(8月2日)后停止[1]。王表示："目前的计划是燃油消费税逐步降低，如你们所知，它已经下降了一半，我们的意图是从这个周末起停止执行"[1]。总理阿尔巴内塞警告，中东冲突持续的时间越长，对澳大利亚的影响就越大[1]。
为应对燃油供应挑战，联邦政府与西澳州政府将共同出资400万美元进行可行性研究，探索在西澳建设新的大型石油炼油厂[1]。该项目是150亿美元能源保障计划的一部分[1]。资源部长玛德琳·金指出，西澳州在2021年BP和科威纳炼油厂关闭后已无任何燃油炼油能力[1]。如果该项目最终实施，将成为自1960年代以来澳大利亚首次建设的大规模新型汽油炼油厂[1]。
Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced that the federal government's fuel excise discount will discontinue as of this weekend, August 2 [1]. "Currently the plan is for the fuel excise to step down, as you know, it's come down, it's halved and the intention is for that to discontinue as of this weekend," Wong stated [1].
The announcement comes as the government pursues broader measures to address fuel supply pressures. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Western Australian government will jointly fund a $4 million feasibility study into constructing a new large-scale oil refinery in Western Australia [1]. If it proceeds, the facility would mark the first new large-scale petrol refinery built in Australia since the 1960s [1]. The initiative is part of a $15 billion package aimed at securing fuel supplies amid escalating Middle East conflict [1]. Albanese emphasized the stakes, stating: "The longer war in the Middle East goes on the greater the impact on Australia will be" [1].
Resources Minister Madeleine King noted the urgency of the proposal, pointing out that "WA is now left without any fuel refining capacity after the closure of BP and Kwinana in 2021" [1]. The refinery initiative reflects growing concerns over energy security, particularly as oil prices reached $US100 ($143) per barrel last week for the first time since May [1].