How to resolve AdBlock issue? ‘Hands Off Our Fuel’ say builders as they back the fuel tax credit system
MASTER BULDERS Australia has backed the Hands Off Our Fuel campaign and members are urging policy makers to “leave this vital policy setting alone”.
A recent Parliamentary Budget Office analysis found the construction sector receives around $694 million in fuel tax credits each year. Master Builders Australia said this highlighted the importance of the policy to businesses across the building and construction supply chain.
The fuel tax credit has come under heavy fire from environmentalists claiming it is ‘supporting the fossil fuel industry’ and penalising the development of clean energy industries. The purpose of the tax is to reimburse the ‘road infrastructure’ component of fuel taxes to industries that do not use that fuel for road transport. 
Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn explained the tax credit to the building sector as a “refund of a road tax where there’s no road use”. She said this can include running equipment such as power generators, concrete mixers and excavators.
“Any attempt to remove or reduce it would impact not only builders, who use off-road equipment, but also add costs right across the construction supply chain,” Ms Wawn said.
"Builders and their suppliers rely on fuel and diesel-powered equipment on construction sites every day. The industry cannot afford additional costs that would flow through the supply chain and ultimately add to the cost of building new homes.
"Squeezing already tight margins by reducing this refund would be bad policy.
“At a time when Australia needs to increase housing supply, policymakers should be focused on reducing costs, not adding to them,” Ms Wawn said.
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