Australia is dealing with “the biggest spike in petrol and diesel prices in history”, but it seems one nation is convinced our fuel is “cheap” – a fact Aussies have been quick to correct.
Despite the federal government’s four-phase plan to tackle Australia’s crisis which will see the excise halved from Wednesday, reducing the cost of fuel by 26.3 cents per litre, prices are putting serious pressure on households and businesses.
On Monday, the NRMA’s Fuel Report recorded the current average price for regular unleaded fuel in Sydney is 257.8 cents per litre, up 14.6 cents per litre this past week.
But in some areas across the country, including Brisbane and Melbourne, prices have soared past $3 a litre, with regional locations seeing prices as high as $3.60 per litre.
Diesel fares no better, with the average price in Sydney currently sitting at 322.8 cents per litre, according to the most recent data.
While Australia doesn’t have the highest prices in the world, we are sitting towards the top end of the global scale, prompting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to introduce measures that will “make a difference”.
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However many Americans reckon fuel Down Under is a steal, with countless commenting on videos about Aussie prices claiming it is “cheap”, seemingly unaware of the difference between how the two countries sell fuel.
In the US, it is sold by the gallon, which contains 3.785 litres.
Meaning that with the average American price of petrol, which currently comes in at $5.81 ($3.99 USD) per gallon, works out to approximately $1.535 per litre, almost half the price we’re paying in Australia.
A tongue-in-cheek video pointing this out to our friends in the US of A has garnered huge attention as Americans grapple to grasp the misunderstanding.
“Isn’t Australia’s minimum wage around $25 an hour? Ours is $7.25,” argued one, who clearly still doesn’t get it.
“So it’s cheaper in the US?” asked another confused person.
Australians are equally as bewildered, though for a completely different reason.
“Between this and the ‘OMG, I didn’t know Kmart still exists’,” scoffed one local.
“Their ears are clearly decorative,” joked another.
As one raged: “Why don’t they get they are paying per gallon we are per litre?”
There were some who realised the error of their ways, conceding: “Oh my gosh y’all got it worse we so sorry.”
“OHHHKAY NOW I FEEL BAD,” agreed another American.
The realisation comes as desperate Aussies are sharing hacks in order to buy fuel cheaper in a bid to survive the current fuel crisis, caused by the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz and cut off 20 per cent of the global oil trade.
Though Melbourne-based criminal defence lawyer Lauren Cassimatis warned against those considering driving off without paying for fuel, explaining it is a criminal offence that can garner serious consequences.
“It’s usually prosecuted as theft or obtaining property by deception under each state’s Crimes Act. It’s not a minor infringement,” she told news.com.au.
“Across Australia, this conduct can lead to criminal charges, hefty fines, a criminal conviction, and in serious or repeated cases, even jail time.”
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