why is the fuel price so high

Because your petrol does a world tour before it reaches the bowser, and everyone clips the ticket along the way.

Global crude prices (nudged by OPEC+ supply decisions and lively geopolitics) set the base in US dollars, then a wobbly AUD makes it dearer here.

Refining capacity and regional supply hiccups push up margins, while freight and the joy of trucking fuel across a continent add a few cents too.

Then come government charges—fuel excise and GST—scaling neatly with the price, like a tip you didn’t mean to leave.

Retailers layer on competitive price cycles, so city prices yo-yo; timing your fill can save a tidy chunk.

Annoying? Absolutely. Mysterious? Not really—it’s just lots of small levers being yanked at once.