NEWS - Marine Queensland joins 'Fight the Fuel Tax' campaign

Marine Queensland has announced its support in joining the RACQ and other major industry groups in a bid to fight the Queensland Government’s decision to scrap its fuel subsidy scheme.

According to the recreational boating industry representative organisation, removing the current subsidy saving of 8.35 cents, plus GST, will amount to a tax increase of 9.2 cents on every litre of petrol and diesel.

Marine Queensland general manager, Don Jones said scrapping the subsidy would hit the owners of the State’s 230,000 registered recreational vessels hard.

“When combined with the recent boat and vehicle registration increases, the removal of the fuel subsidy will cost Queensland’s boat-owning families at least several hundred dollars a year,” said Jones.

The last 18 months have seen a growing number of Queensland residents choosing to holiday closer to home rather than engage in overseas travel, claimed Marine Queensland, adding that this trend has had a positive impact on the marine industry, with activities such as boating and fishing now popular and affordable holiday alternatives.
However, it foresees the Government’s decision to remove its fuel subsidy forcing many families to re-think their holiday plans.

“This decision will not only affect recreational boat owners, but will have a significant impact on Queensland’s marine industry as a whole. The marine tourism sector is going to be amongst the hardest hit,” Jones said.

Marine Queensland said making fuel more expensive through higher taxes is going to leave families and businesses — who are already doing it tough — with even less money to spend on other goods and services which will inevitably rise in price due to transportation costs.

Marine Queensland said it is urging Queenslanders to support the ‘Fight the Fuel Tax’ campaign by signing the online petition available at www.racq.com/fuelsubsidy