Hospitality operators across Australia are actively considering the imposition of a five per cent surcharge on customer bills as transport and delivery expenses skyrocket during the ongoing national fuel crisis. The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association has formally urged businesses to implement a temporary levy on all meals, including takeaway orders, to mitigate the severe financial pressures.
Proposed Levy Details and Industry Backing
The proposed surcharge would add an extra five dollars to every one hundred dollars spent, directly addressing the escalating costs that are crippling supply chains. Wes Lambert, chief executive of the ARCA, emphasised the pervasive impact of fuel prices on the sector in a statement to the Herald Sun.
'Fuel touches everything in hospitality — every delivery, every supplier, every ingredient and every collection truck that pulls up behind a venue,' Mr Lambert declared. 'This is happening rapidly as petrol stations around Victoria and New South Wales begin to run out of diesel. What we're hearing from restaurants, cafes, and some pubs nationwide is they are now being hit with a fuel surcharge from their own suppliers.'
Government Inaction and Survival Measures
Lambert stressed that if the government fails to stabilise costs, businesses must be permitted to adopt survival measures. He warned that the levy would only be temporary but cautioned that many hospitality operators face imminent shutdown without 'practical relief.' The crisis has garnered support from prominent industry figures, including celebrity chef Shane Delia.
'The fact of the matter is that as an industry we absorb the bottom of the food chain all the time and we find it really hard to pass on anything,' Delia explained. He conceded that the proposal's success hinges on unified industry adoption, noting it will only work if the sector as a whole joins forces and comes on board.
Widespread Fuel Shortages Intensify Crisis
The urgency of the situation is underscored by severe fuel shortages reported across key states. Energy Minister Chris Bowen informed parliament that almost two hundred petrol stations in New South Wales have exhausted their diesel supplies, with at least thirty-two reporting a complete absence of fuel. In Victoria, the situation is equally dire, with one hundred and thirty-four stations lacking one or more fuel grades.
These shortages are exacerbating the financial strain on hospitality businesses, which rely heavily on consistent and affordable transport for deliveries and supply chain operations. The proposed surcharge represents a critical stopgap measure to prevent widespread closures in an industry already grappling with post-pandemic recovery challenges.
