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Bran Black, the head of powerful big business lobby the Business Council of Australia, chose a curious example to demonstrate how one of his members is placing their shoulders to the wheel to help staff navigate the fuel crisis. Apparently, Coles is allowing staff to work longer shifts to reduce driving to work.<\/p>\n
I guess that\u2019s one way to lend a helping hand.<\/p>\n
Consumers would be more interested to know how the big supermarkets were absorbing the additional fuel-related costs they would be enduring, rather than passing these on to higher shelf prices.<\/p>\n
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Chief executive of the Business Council of Australia Bran Black, who appeared at a press conference in Canberra on Wednesday.Alex Ellinghausen<\/p>\n
Big business\u2019s response will vary. We will certainly see some significant price increases for consumers and have already witnessed this from airlines<\/a>.<\/p>\n But Treasurer Jim Chalmers, who unveiled various relief measures for small businesses and households on Wednesday, was keen to demonstrate the bona fides of a united effort with big business to put their shoulders to the wheel to help consumers and small businesses navigate the fuel crisis and its inflationary ripples.<\/p>\n Chalmers says it\u2019s a joint effort to try and shield small businesses and consumers from \u201cthe worst the world can throw at us, the consequences of this very substantial oil shock emanating from a war in the Middle East\u201d.<\/p>\n Make no mistake, it\u2019s no $89 billion COVID JobKeeper scheme. There are no gifts, it\u2019s more of a buy now pay later approach. It is short-term relief \u2013 call it a breather \u2013 to keep some businesses afloat.<\/p>\n At the heart of this government assistance are more generous tax-payment plans for small businesses that are caught in the fuel-induced cash squeeze. It may remit interest and penalties for late payment for companies whose income has fallen. And compliance actions and debt collections could be paused, for those that the tax office deems appropriate.<\/p>\n But it has limits and there are thresholds for where concessional treatment will be provided.<\/p>\n Related Article The banks have been enlisted to provide small business and consumers with some wriggle room to help them get over a financial hump by, for example, allowing them to move to interest-only loans for a period, reducing or waiving fees for hardship cases, or lengthening loan times to reduce monthly interest payments.<\/p>\n More universal measures like the cut in fuel excise<\/a> started flowing through to retail petrol buyers on Wednesday, providing immediate and tangible relief.<\/p>\n But the reprieve from the tax office and the banks won\u2019t allow businesses to escape payment, which will need to be made down the road at some unspecified time.<\/p>\n The immediate action by the banks will avoid some consumers and small businesses becoming a statistic in the lending arrears column.<\/p>\n Similarly, big businesses\u2019 willingness to offer a degree of largesse to their suppliers by, for example, more regular reviews of fuel levies, can\u2019t go on forever.<\/p>\n Most of these are emergency measures that work temporarily and probably assume a short-term timeline for Donald Trump\u2019s war with Iran.<\/p>\n And the Australian government, like the rest of the world, is at the whim of the mercurial US president, whose war plan communications vary by the day.<\/p>\n The US sharemarket staged a massive relief rally<\/a> on Tuesday (US time) after Trump said the US would be leaving Iran very soon, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio backed him up saying Washington could \u201csee the finish line\u201d.<\/p>\n Trust in Trump\u2019s social media declarations is frayed, but the Iranians are sending the same signals, so markets have a more solid basis for their optimism.<\/p>\n Related Article But despite the potential for an end to the conflict, Trump is signalling he will not take responsibility for opening the Hormuz shipping channel that is crippling the supply of much of the world\u2019s oil supply.<\/p>\n He is prepared to leave that mess for other countries to clean up.<\/p>\n Even if the war comes to an end over the next couple of weeks, its effect on world oil prices, supply and inflation will last longer.<\/p>\n How long can the \u201cTeam Australia\u201d alliance between big business, the government and regulators hold its cohesive nerve? It will be tested.<\/p>\n The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Donald](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4ebc831e08b589e3d6977406a87a066347509750.jpeg\")
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