Poll Finds Most Australians Back Gas Export Tax and Fuel Excise Extension as Albanese Holds Firm

A majority of Australian voters support taxing profits on gas exports and extending the government's temporary fuel excise cut, according to a Guardian Essential poll released Wednesday — a finding that places significant public pressure on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ahead of the federal budget, even as he has ruled out any new levy on existing gas contracts.

The Details

The Guardian Essential survey of 1,067 voters found 57 percent support taxing gas export profits, with only 12 percent opposed and the remainder unsure, according to the Guardian. On fuel relief, the poll found an even stronger consensus: 68 percent want the temporary excise cut extended past its planned 30 June expiry.

The excise reduction was introduced as part of the government's response to a fuel crisis. According to the Australian Taxation Office, the duty rate on petrol and diesel was cut from $0.526 to $0.206 per litre — a reduction of 60.9 percent — effective 1 April through 30 June 2026.

Albanese has signalled he will not impose a new tax on existing gas export contracts in the upcoming budget. Speaking before the poll was published, he pushed back on reports that the budget contained more action on beer tax than on gas. "I've seen there are reports suggesting that there's more on beer tax than gas. It's just not true," the prime minister told reporters, according to ABC News.

Peter Lewis, executive director of Essential Media, said the results reflect a broader deterioration in economic sentiment. "There has been a sharp decline in confidence in the economy over the next six months as the impact of the Iran war bites," he said. He said the findings put the treasurer in a difficult position ahead of budget night: "This creates real challenges for the treasurer leading into the budget, but there is strong support for measures to review housing tax concessions and gas exports."

The poll also captured shifting views on energy direction. According to the Guardian, 61 percent of respondents said Australia should continue moving toward renewables — 23 percent as quickly as possible and 38 percent at a steady, manageable pace — while 29 percent preferred slowing or stopping the transition away from fossil fuels.

Context

The polling comes as Australian households are absorbing a sharp surge in fuel costs that has rippled through broader inflation figures. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that Australia's CPI rose 4.6 percent in the year to March 2026, up from 3.7 percent in February. Transport prices climbed 8.9 percent over that period, while automotive fuel costs rose 24.2 percent year on year — among the largest contributors to annual inflation in the March quarter, according to the ABS.

The Guardian Essential poll also captured how voters are attributing blame for the fuel shock. According to the Guardian, 42 percent of respondents blamed the US and Israel for initiating military strikes on Iran, while 32 percent blamed the Australian government for not planning ahead for the resulting fuel disruption.

Albanese has consistently defended the government's tax settings on gas exporters, arguing public debate has distorted the sector's existing tax contribution, according to ABC News. His position going into the budget is that existing arrangements will remain in place for contracts already signed — a line that leaves him at odds with a majority of poll respondents who want additional taxation.

What's Next

The federal budget is due in the coming weeks. According to ABC News, Albanese has already indicated that a new tax on existing gas export contracts will not feature in it, meaning the gap between the poll findings and the government's stated position is likely to persist beyond budget night.

The fuel excise reduction is currently scheduled to expire on 30 June 2026, according to the Australian Taxation Office. Whether it will be extended — a step backed by 68 percent of survey respondents — is among the outstanding budget questions the government has not yet resolved publicly.