Restaurants and cafes urged to add 5 per cent ‘fuel surcharge’ to all bills
Australian diners face a potential surcharge on restaurant bills as the fuel crisis forces eateries to pass on soaring delivery and supply costs.
News.com.au
March 28, 2026
Australians might soon face a five per cent increase in costs at their favourite restaurant, cafe, or pub due to rising petrol prices.
Hospitality businesses across the country are considering adding a ‘fuel surcharge’ on all drinks and meals, including takeaway – meaning a $100 bill would rise to $105 – and that’s not even counting weekend and card surcharges.
The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association’s chief executive Wes Lambert has urged businesses to introduce this temporary surcharge to cover the higher expenses they are currently facing.
However, some have argued it would place more financial strain on Aussies, who are already burdened by recent interest rate hikes, existing cost of living pressures, and soaring petrol prices.
Aussies might be slapped with an extra five per cent surcharge at restaurants, cafes and pubs.
Mr Lambert said the fuel crisis has increased costs for transportation, freight, refrigeration, supplier deliveries, utilities, and waste collection, adding to the financial pressures already faced by eateries.
“Fuel touches everything in hospitality – every delivery, every supplier, every ingredient and every collection truck that pulls up behind a venue,” he said.
“If government won’t stabilise costs, businesses must be allowed to survive them.”
Mr Lambert noted that “many hospitality businesses” have been hit with their own fuel charges on deliveries from suppliers.
“This is happening rapidly as petrol stations around Victoria and NSW begin to run out of diesel … what we’re hearing from restaurants and cafes and some pubs around the country is they are now being hit with a fuel surcharge,” he said.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has confirmed that 608 service stations across Australia are lacking either diesel or unleaded, making up eight per cent of the total 7798 service stations.
The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association claims the fee will help keep hospitality businesses afloat given the current fuel crisis.
Mr Lambert said a surcharge could help business owners keep operating despite factors “they can’t control”.
“We have such low profit margins as it is – 2.6 per cent for cafes and 2.8 per cent for restaurants, which keep on absorbing the world’s problems,” he said.
“So the association is calling on the industry to band together and rather than absorb the cost burden, introduce a fuel surcharge.”
However, the move has sparked a rift within the industry.
John Hart, President of Restaurant & Catering Australia, has hit back at the proposal, labelling the idea of a collective surcharge “anticompetitive”.
“I would think that any attempt to set a price or a surcharge, between a group of operators and/or an association could be considered anticompetitive,” Hart told news.com.au.
“This is not a place that Restaurant & Catering or I want to be.”
Mr Hart warned that the ACCC would likely have “a good look” at any businesses attempting to “collude on pricing”.
“They have said as much in response to the fuel prices at the bowser so why not other businesses?” he said.
He also expressed concern that the surcharge could “scare diners away” leading up to Easter, which would be the “most damaging outcome”.
However, not everyone is convinced it’s a good idea.
On social media, Aussies were also divided over the idea.
“Companies can’t be expected to absorb the costs and still stay afloat sadly,” one supporter wrote on Facebook.
“As long as it is removed after the crisis and not kept, I’m in favour,” another said.
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