Australia delays fuel excise tax start date

Implementation of Australia’s fuel excise tax, which was announced by the Howard government in 2004 and was supposed to kick in this July, has been delayed.  Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten said he had listened to the concerns of the industry and would “delay the start until December to give it time to adjust.” LPG producers will be given five years to adjust to an excise set at half that applying to regular petrol on an energy-adjusted basis. Ethanol producers will be given 10 years. The government has released a draft legislation and has asked for comments by February 18. (January 25, 2011)