<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/australia" rel="" target="" title="Australia's"><span>Australia's</span></a><span> business chambers want the federal </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/government" rel="" target="_blank" title="government"><span>government</span></a><span> to reduce the heavy vehicle road user charge to ease pressure on truckies as the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/fuel" rel="" target="_blank" title="fuel"><span>fuel</span></a><span> crisis escalates.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>With diesel </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/petrol-prices" rel="" target="_blank" title="prices"><span>prices</span></a><span> surging above $3 a litre across the country, </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-crisis-australia-truck-drivers-warning-as-diesel-shortage-poses-deadly-risk-remote-highways/1d5bb6be-e154-4486-8d33-bd8f6cf9cf24" rel="" target="_blank" title="truckies"><span>truckies</span></a><span> and other transport businesses are beginning to feel the pinch, and this could soon be passed on to the consumer as household goods get more expensive.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Australian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) today urged the government to reduce the tax from 32.4 cents a litre to relieve pressure on transport businesses and owner operators.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-march-29-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/91899f37-9654-4f9d-a68a-43487e732a29" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Trump slammed over 'huge miscalculation'</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They said the tax brought in $3 billion of revenue a year, but reducing it would avoid "even worse outcomes" during Australia's current petrol plight.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That will help control the costs in the supply chain," ACCI's Andrew McKellar said at a press conference today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"For things like food and grocery prices, it will help insulate the impact there and moderate any inflationary impact that they're seeing."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-crisis-australia-businesses-urge-government-to-decrease-heavy-vehicle-road-user-charge-tax/5f06eb9d-5118-48a6-a82f-c83968c3db60" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Comparing it to the fuel excise, which the federal opposition has called for the government to reduce, McKellar said reducing the heavy vehicle charge was a "targeted measure" that had a more meaningful impact and would not adversely affect inflation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's something that doesn't send an artificial signal, such as what an immediate reduction in the fuel excise would do," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>FUEL CRISIS:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-crisis-australia-albanese-government-taxpayer-funds-underwrite-petrol-costs/5dd84c83-70af-4ed1-a45f-129faa923326" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Government to use taxpayer funds to underwrite cost of petrol</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It doesn't encourage artificially higher demand.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We want to minimise the adverse economic impact."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It comes as the ACCI urged the government to implement a four-point plan to address the fuel crisis, which has pushed up prices and left pumps to run dry across Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This includes securing the supply of petrol by working with allies in the Gulf region, and working with distributors to get fuel out to all Australians quicker.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They have also called on the government to manage demand, not ruling out measures such as fuel rationing, as well as ensuring businesses can survive the price surges; the reduction to the heavy vehicle charge is part of this.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/victoria-news-free-public-transport-in-the-state-to-address-fuel-shortage/aa18489c-095a-4bbc-93a5-a806c0bd3c60" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Aussies in two states offered free public transport as price of fuel surges</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Efforts must be stepped up to ensure Australian businesses come through this crisis in the best shape possible," McKellar said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He clarified Australia was still not at the point of needing to ration fuel, but highlighted a scenario that might make it possible.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"If we are seeing material shortages, difficulty in securing those international supplies," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It could be several months before we get to that point, if that starts to happen."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The state and territory leaders met with Prime Minister </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/anthony-albanese" rel="" target="_blank" title="Anthony Albanese"><span>Anthony Albanese</span></a><span> today ahead of a National Cabinet meeting tomorrow.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></strong></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" rel="" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google 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