Greens call for an end to jet fuel tax breaks for rich

By Catherine Bouris in Sydney

If the federal government is looking to cut spending, it need look no further than tax breaks for millionaires, say the Greens.

Parliamentary Budget Office analysis reveals tax breaks for private jet owners will cost taxpayers $640 million in 2027 and $1.5 billion over the forward estimates.

As a result, the minor party is calling on parliament to put an end to tax breaks for private jet fuel.

The research shows ordinary Australians pay almost 15 times more tax per litre of petrol than private jet owners pay for fuel, Greens leader David Shoebridge said.

Drivers are forking out 53.7c/L compared to jet owners paying just 3.5556c/L.

The Greens point out that the tax break saves Pauline Hanson $174 every time she refuels, while billionaires Clive Palmer and Gina Rinehart are subsidised by more than $3000.

Ms Hanson was gifted her private jet, a Cirrus G7 worth over $1 million, by Ms Rinehart in April, taunting critics with a video of the aircraft’s unveiling.

“Yes it was donated. Yes I’m super happy. Yes it’s fast. Yes it’s amazing. Yes it’s going to annoy The Guardian. Yes it means I can visit more regional towns across the country more often. Yes it’s a Cirrus G7. Yes it’s sexy. Yes I have a pilot,” Pauline Hanson.

Mr Shoebridge slammed the federal government for spending more on these tax breaks than putting an end to petrol price gouging or investing in EV charging infrastructure.

“While you’re searching for a supermarket receipt to save 4 cents a litre, Labor’s using your money to give Australia’s billionaires hundreds of millions off their jet fuel bill,” he said.

“If someone’s rich enough to own a plane they don’t need help paying for the fuel.”

Mr Shoebridge also criticised the federal government for slashing the NDIS budget while continuing to subsidise private jet travel.

“Labor’s priorities are all wrong. Anthony Albanese shouldn’t be cutting services for disabled people and pensioners, while helping the 1 per cent fill up their private jets for cheap.”

Global oil prices soared this year in response to US conflict with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, though prices have dropped in recent weeks following Democratic wins in the midterm elections and a statement from President Donald Trump that new strikes on Iran were unlikely.