ABC Illawarra - Fuel Crisis and Tourism

E&OE TRANSCRIPT

RADIO NEWS BULLETIN

ABC ILLAWARRA

WEDNESDAY, 8 APRIL 2026

SUBJECTS: Middle East, Fuel, Tourism, Local Businesses

[START]

HOST: Whitlam MP Carol Berry says the federal government wants to hear from tourism operators and small businesses about how the government can help them through the fuel price spike. Tourism visitations were down over Easter, a trend that looks set to continue as the war in the Middle East escalates, forcing up world oil prices. Ms Berry says the Federal Labor Government has acted by halving the fuel excise and is looking at other ways to relieve pressure on the tourism sector.

CAROL BERRY MP: We are just really wanting to back in businesses. We want to hear from them. We want to hear what their concerns are. We want to hear how government can assist, but fundamentally how government at the federal level, can help is through how we advertise Australia as a visitor destination.

Host: Destination Wollongong will seek to focus on group travel and large events as tourism become more challenging due to the rising cost of fuel…

[END]

#Middle East #Fuel #Tourism #Local Businesses #DestinationWollongong