Neralie Kaye Bailey

How life has changed! Reporter for The Recorder, postgrad student at Monash Uni, Radio Junkie - Crazy Cat Lady - Guinea Pig Slave - Serious Equine Addiction

[Margie Jones @MargieJay50]

@news_australian I’d say Keating could see into the future because this was written in 1996.👇

[ShiannonCorcoran💉x4 @shiannonc.bsky.social @ShiannonC]

Back in 2022 Scott Morrison and his coalition government halved the fuel excise for six months. This excise cut cost the government between 6 and 8 billion dollars to implement.

Initially Scott Morrison was reluctant to implement an excise cut and played down the fuel crisis and costs as temporary off the back of the Ukraine war.

Interestingly at the time, Morrison called fuel prices a global issue, saying “You don’t go and completely recalibrate your budget based on fluctuations in oil prices. They’ve gone up, they’ve gone down”.

Angus Taylor also weighed in, saying “Australia cannot control international price spikes”.

Ironic 🙄 considering An*us has been foghorning most of the blame this week for the fuel price hikes on Labor - not on “international price spikes”.

Eventually Morrison backed down and halved the fuel excise due to mounting pressure. Initially there were savings at the fuel pump for consumers - but in less than 2 or 3 weeks fuel prices were creeping back up to pre-excise reduction levels. So what was happening? While there was some price gouging going on, the international competition for supply driven by the war in Ukraine continued to push global fuel prices higher. These rising costs largely offset any savings. People were paying just as much for fuel as they were before.

The problem with cutting fuel excise is that it creates other substantial problems. It increases the likelihood of fuel shortages as people buy more fuel and stock up just like they did in the great toilet paper crisis of 2020. People panic when they think they are going to miss out on something. Which is what is going on right now. Joe and Karen down the road are buying fuel in bulk just in case - which is decreasing supply and making it appear like we are running low on fuel NOW. Cutting fuel excise could also lead to increased inflation as people with enough income spend more money on hoarding fuel.

In 2022, people on higher incomes spent more money on the initial cheaper fuel while those on lower incomes bought what they could afford. A disadvantage for low-income earners straight away.

Of course, in 2026, mining magnates like Gina Rinehart are screaming for a fuel excise cut from Labor. This is not because Gina thinks poor people deserve a break. Gina stands to save millions in the short term on cheaper fuel. Millions on top of her billion-dollar profits. While I didn’t hear her screaming for a cut in 2022 from the coalition, it is not people like Rinehart who should be benefiting - but in their angst-driven cost-of-living crisis, people tend to forget that those with the most will also benefit the most.

It’s also interesting to note that Australia’s oil refining production has declined dramatically over the last two decades. Six of eight refineries shut down and converted to import terminals. Five of the six closures occurred during periods of coalition government.

The remaining two refineries are Ampol’s Lytton site in Brisbane and Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery. Both are supported by government fuel security subsidies to remain open.

Believe it or not m, we do currently have enough fuel in reserve. Two to three months’ worth. the government are working on coordinating shipments and distribution.

What is going on at present is panic buying. This panic buying has been stirred up via vested interests for the purpose of creating chaos, division and fear.

As usual.

I will never forget the panic buying that ensued because people thought they were going to run out of food during the pandemic - and of all things - toilet paper.

The shortages and the crisis were created by those who panicked and cleaned out supplies. There was never a food shortage. There was never a toilet paper shortage. People create these shortages via their responses to media fear mongering, dog whistling crises and culture war rhetoric.

Exactly what is going on now.

[Neralie Kaye Bailey @justaddguinea]

@aaronsmith 14 yr old daughter says there is no way this would stop her or her friends - all know how to get around restrictions so I don’t ban her (or older son) I supervise them and try to educate them about choices. Regulators who don’t consult with the group they are trying to protect!

[Neralie Kaye Bailey @justaddguinea]

@notlex682 Mate I have two undergraduate degrees and have taken a second job in hospitality to make ends meet on top of a full time job below the average Australian wage. 60k + in student debt because I bought ‘you must have a degree’ meanwhile both my bosses are on 120k+ with no degrees

[Gareth Reynolds @reynoldsgareth]

Everyone all together…. #fuck

[Neralie Kaye Bailey @justaddguinea]

@stillfvckinluvu Dutton is already salivating to follow his lead. I feel ill.

[Neralie Kaye Bailey @justaddguinea]

@AJGardineresq If I ever contemplated reading this paper again this would be the reminder I need that it’s not worth the paper it’s printed on.

[Neralie Kaye Bailey @justaddguinea]

@Jacurtis95 Doesn’t bode well for future selections for us poor voters

[Neralie Kaye Bailey @justaddguinea]

@ramblingivy22 @anth0888 I thought the same! But I’ve noticed a few schools locally where the library is almost devoid of books. Breaks my heart as the stacks were my lifeline at high school.

[Neralie Kaye Bailey @justaddguinea]

@Meeshlwills @PeacePius24 I definitely do things for my kids that they can do, just because I can and as the get older what I can do for them is less and less.

[Neralie Kaye Bailey @justaddguinea]

@RealVinnieJames @beerfaery @EMmommanuke @julieroginsky @ABCNewsLive Fathers can still parent when divorced or separated from the mother. Fact is it’s quite difficult to do so if the mother has to have a restraining order due to violence and if the father doesn’t make the effort to father.

[Neralie Kaye Bailey @justaddguinea]

@HonsCupboard @MeghanEMurphy Oh boy because women’s sport gets the big profile and attracts the big cash right?

[Neralie Kaye Bailey @justaddguinea]

@MeghanEMurphy @MikhaeL_L_Llama There is an excellent podcast I listened to recently from @AllusionistShow which explained it really well for me who had not lived these experiences about what I take for granted getting medical care that trans people do not get and that is in terms of basic care, nothing special

[Neralie Kaye Bailey @justaddguinea]

@Jacurtis95 It’s like the police and the politicians don’t want to see the elephant.

[Neralie Kaye Bailey @justaddguinea]

@Bookbuzzer @blakandblack Some of us are trying but little voices don’t get much attention

[Neralie Kaye Bailey @justaddguinea]

@blakandblack @andrea_weymouth He’s certainly not big on explaining. I interviewed a Lib MP and asked why there was no detail on the nuke proposal and apparently the great unwashed public need to be spoon fed a bit at a time because it’s too much for us to take in Dutton’s wisdom in one go. Fecking spare me.

[Neralie Kaye Bailey @justaddguinea]

@MargoJ69 @blakandblack Not sure I’ll ever get the chance working for a regional paper but you never know.

[Neralie Kaye Bailey @justaddguinea]

@JonathanPieNews “Answer the fucking question you dithering moose!” I snorted coffee out my nose at that one. This will go through my head next press conference I attend.

[Neralie Kaye Bailey @justaddguinea]

@julieannebolger @RageSheen My son’s school won’t take no for an answer (although I haven’t actually flatly refused). I am fortunate I can go and get him but it usually means the poor kid has to come with me at work and sit in the car while I’m doing things or I go home and have to work after hours.

[Craig Hill @CraigHill01]

Peter Dutton is chucking a hissy fit over this meme. Please stop sharing it.