Dutton speaks out on PM’s petrol price mistake

Peter Dutton has criticised Anthony Albanese for not knowing the average price of petrol as rising fuel costs put more pressure on Australian households.

The opposition leader told 2GB on Monday that while the prime minister should not be expected to remember every detail, Mr Albanese should show he knows families are going through a difficult time.

“It’s hard for the Prime Minister to say he understands the pressure that families are under but not be observant enough to notice that petrol was going to become an issue over the last month or so,” Mr Dutton said.

“Because once you get past $2, $2.20, up to about $2.50, families start to leave the car in the garage at that point, and that’s the difficulty you run into with this issue, I guess.”

Mr Albanese was heavily criticised on Sunday after telling reporters he could not give the current cost of fuel in Australia.

“Can you tell me roughly what the price of petrol is at the moment?” asked Sky News presenter Andrew Clennell.

“I don’t fill up my car with gas. But last time it was about $1.80,” Albanese replied.

The error came as gasoline prices hit their highest national average all year, with drivers in major cities paying more than $2 per gallon to fuel their vehicles.

According to the Australian Petroleum Institute, average fuel prices have now risen to $2.07 in Sydney, $2.06 in Adelaide, $1.98 in Canberra and $1.94 in Melbourne.

Prices are expected to remain well above normal for the remainder of August due to increased global market demand and reduced oil supply.

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce said that while Mr Albanese’s response was motivated by an attempt to catch journalists out, the government needed a “reality check”.

“It sounds a bit like a trick question, but at the same time it is one of the fundamental principles of our success,” the National MP told Sunrise.

“You have to know what bread, milk and fuel are. I understand that he is Prime Minister and he does not go to the corner shop because he is accompanied by bodyguards and it bothers other customers, but it is something he should know.”

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison faced similar criticism last year for failing to disclose the cost of basic groceries in a speech to the National Press Club.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said it was more important for the prime minister to focus on raising wages and mitigating the effects of inflation.

“We are cutting the cost of medicines in half, making doctor visits free and reducing energy costs by investing up to $3 billion in energy bill relief,” Plibersek told Sunrise.

“We are also trying to make housing cheaper.”

Mr Albanese stressed that easing the cost of living was a top priority at Labor’s national conference in Brisbane last week.

This year’s federal budget provided $14.6 billion in “targeted relief” for Australians, which included a $500 energy bill deduction for eligible households in July.