General News
25 September, 2026
Fuel charges squeeze FNQ
AS fuel prices soar in the Far North, 30 business representatives have met and made recommendations at a FNQ Fuel Impacts Roundtable last week ahead of the next roundtable in October.
The highest price for unleaded was 249.9 cents per litre on Wednesday, while diesel has topped 296.9 cents.
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Tropical North board chairwoman Hurriyet Babacan (right) said 30 representatives from across tourism, aviation, freight and logistics, agriculture, small business, local government, health and community services, remote retail and food security, First Nations service delivery, infrastructure and government had contributed to the findings.
“The impact of fuel supply fears has been similar to the impacts of natural disasters and once again serves to highlight the vulnerability of regional and remote areas facing the cumulative impact of consecutive disasters, increased cost of living and housing pressures,” she said.
“The FNQ Fuel Impacts Roundtable confirmed that physical fuel supply was largely maintained in the early months of the Middle East crisis.
“However, it did not prevent significant economic and service impacts across the region.
“These impacts could escalate with the region remaining vulnerable to future fuel price and supply shocks as the conflict continues.
“Several key impacts were identified, including significant reduction in tourism demand and visitor expenditure, unharvested produce where costs exceeded expected returns and delayed recruitment across small business.
“Local government resources were redirected from maintenance and capital works, there were disproportionate impacts on remote and First Nations communities and uncertainty around essential service priorities.
“Higher fuel and freight costs, price volatility and uncertainty are compounded by Far North Queensland’s distance from major markets, reliance on road, air and marine freight, limited transport alternatives and diesel dependence in many remote communities.
“To strengthen our region’s resilience, governments need to consider, not just physical supply, but also affordability, confidence, service continuity, preparedness and longer-term energy resilience.
“The first roundtable was held in July while the Australian Government’s temporary fuel excise reduction measures were in place, but next month’s will be looking at the impact of much higher fuel prices following the excise returning in full in August.
“Individual industries and organisations gather their own data on issues such as fuel supply and RDA Tropical North provides the mechanism to bring this intelligence together across the region to ensure all voices are considered in government decision making.”
Have your say via the RDA Tropical North feedback portal on www.cnslocal.s.gy/n2E7xw
