Fuel prices drop in South West after national excise is slashed as part of pre-election Federal Budget

South West motorists are set for a much-needed respite from an unprecedented surge in fuel prices, with the cost of petrol plummeting in the region. The hip-pocket boost comes after the Federal Government slashed the national fuel excise for the next six months. The average price for unleaded petrol in the region has dropped to as low as 185.9¢ per litre — 23.4¢ cheaper than at its peak on March 17. And the drop is expected to continue over coming weeks, while the new tax cuts are passed on to the customer. “As the excise cuts are still to be completely passed on and recent movements in the international benchmark prices are continuing to be passed through to wholesale prices, there is an expectation for petrol and diesel prices in Perth and the South West region to continue to decrease in the short term,” a FuelWatch spokesperson said. FuelWatch last week said it could take up to six weeks for the drop to be passed on to regional areas. The cheapest fuel in Bunbury on Wednesday could be found at Condello’s Liqour on South Western Highway near Picton, with motorists filling up for just 169.9¢ per litre. Northcliffe Farm and Trade, which had the highest individual price at a massive 219¢ per litre between March 16 and 24, was set to dip below 200¢ on Thursday. Diesel prices are yet to reduce significantly, with the average price in the South West standing at 197.5¢ per litre on Wednesday. Last week, Bunbury mother-of-two Lisa Alietti told the South Western TImes the prices had hit her family hard. “We have a young family so we are really feeling the pinch with the increasing prices,” she said. The cuts were revealed as part of Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s pre-election Budget last week and is expected to cost around $3 billion.