Western Australia’s long‑familiar “cheap Tuesday” tradition is slipping away, with the state’s consumer watchdog warning motorists that global turmoil is reshaping local fuel prices. The ongoing war in the Middle East has rattled supply chains from the region through to Australia, leaving fuel suppliers struggling to operate at full capacity.
“There’s been quite a hit to the supply chain right from the Middle East through, and even though ships are coming, those fuel suppliers are not at full production,” said WA Consumer Protection Commissioner Trish Blake. She noted that suppliers will need time to rebuild output before “ample supply” returns to the local market.
Blake also explained why bowser prices have not immediately reflected the federal government’s halved fuel excise. Much of the fuel currently sitting in retailers’ underground tanks was purchased before the excise cut, meaning retailers must recover those earlier costs.
“As that stock depletes and they then restock with the cheaper petrol, that’s when you’ll start to see those prices come down,” she said. “But rest assured I’m keeping a really close eye on it to make sure that doesn’t drag on too long and that full value of that excise is passed onto consumers.”
Perth’s fuel market is unique among Australian capitals, operating on a weekly price cycle that traditionally makes Tuesday the cheapest day to fill up. But the Middle East conflict has disrupted that rhythm and the competitive dynamics that underpin it. With supply chains strained and wholesale prices fluctuating unpredictably, motorists are being urged to shop around every day rather than rely on the old cycle.
As global tensions continue to ripple through Australia’s fuel network, Perth drivers may need to adjust to a new normal at the pump.
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