Cost-of-living and fuel crisis intensify — grocery inflation, Budget CGT changes, poll shows voter backlash; housing market shift; fuel rationing threat; energy infrastructure milestone; oil inventory deficit; ACCC blocks Coles; Matsa Resources gold project; gas windfall export tax debate; record EV sales; A$38B export windfall; EV charger rollout fragmentation; OX2 solar-storage project; fuel price gouging hits 79% of Aussies; oil prices back to pre-war levels but domestic pain persists; EV tipping point cultural momentum; Middle East tensions trigger fresh oil price surge; BYD refunds for model-year misrepresentation; diesel crisis may accelerate electric truck adoption; refined fuel shortage analysis; budget improvement but petrol pain to grow; Alcoa cuts production outlook; EV data gap hinders grid integration; PM flags new fuel measures, no excise extension past Aug 2; fuel excise restoration pushing petrol past $2/L; fuel prices hit highest since March; EV sales surge to 23.4% in June; Penny Wong signals excise cut end; Coalition backs WA oil refinery study; Hannah Ferguson challenges Albanese; Australia explores first new oil refinery in over 60 years – pre-feasibility study in Karratha; Woodside Q2 output falls 18% on cyclone, maintenance, but revenue jumps on price surge; Ampol and Viva's ageing refineries suddenly profitable due to Hormuz closure, raising windfall tax debate; EV purchase consideration rises to 34% among new-vehicle shoppers; Q2 export prices up 1.1% driven by coal, oil, lithium; NAB warns fuel excise cut end will push up inflation; petrol theft spike in SA as prices rise; ABC analysis balances fuel security against economic/environmental costs, experts skeptical; EVs and hybrids now approach half of new car sales; ASX energy stocks lag despite oil surge
Fuel excise cut ends Aug 2, pushing petrol past $2.30/L. NAB warns of inflation spike and trucking insolvencies. Petrol theft spike in SA (1,891 drive-offs) as prices rise. Bega/Coles warn 10%+ costs; Woolies freezes 300 essentials; rents +37%. Guardian Essential poll: One Nation surges to 28%, Albanese net approval -17. PM Albanese confirms no excise extension, hints at new fuel measures. Australia explores first new oil refinery in over 60 years – pre-feasibility study in Karratha to address 80% import dependence. ABC analysis balances fuel security against economic/environmental costs, with experts skeptical. Woodside Q2 output fell 18% due to cyclone and maintenance, but revenue jumped on price surge from Strait of Hormuz closure; Scarborough start-up in Q4 critical. Ampol and Viva's ageing refineries suddenly profitable due to Hormuz closure, raising windfall tax debate. EV purchase consideration rises to 34% among new-vehicle shoppers. Q2 export prices up 1.1% driven by coal, oil, lithium. June VFACTS record 140k sales, BEVs 23.3% share. 79% of Aussies feel gouged after excise discount halved. Diesel crisis may accelerate electric truck adoption. BYD Australia ordered to refund customers for model-year misrepresentation. Giant batteries flattening duck curve in Victoria. AGL solar microgrid in SA. OX2 acquires 230MWac Corop solar-storage project. Alcoa cuts production outlook due to Pinjarra refinery issues and Cyclone Narelle gas disruptions. New: EVs and hybrids now approach half of new car sales (up from 10% ICE dominance in 2022), as fuel excise ends and ACCC monitors prices. ASX energy stocks have failed to fire despite soaring oil prices from Middle East war, highlighting a market disconnect.