I AGREE

with motorists complaining about today’s outrageous fuel prices, with Australia having among the most expensive fuel in the world.

The public needs to be informed that diesel fuel only costs one third of the cost of petrol to produce and is a very low grade quality diesel, compared to the US, yet in Australia it is dearer than regular petrol.

In reality our diesel should be selling for less than a $1 per litre.

In most US states fuel prices average $3.40 a gallon for regular petrol and $3.60 a gallon for diesel. A US imperial gallon is about 4 litres, while in Australia what we refere to a gallon is 4.5 litres,

After reaching for the trusty calculator, we arrive at the conclusion that Americans only pay 75 cents AU per litre for regular petrol, and 80 cents AU per litre for diesel. So the excise tax, plus GST on our fuel is absolutely criminal.

In the US, their truckers simply cannot believe the price of our petrol and diesel.

Our capped fuel reserves are in the Bass Straight, but our dipsticks are in Canberra. KEN WADE