Energy Minister Angus Taylor has ruled out cutting the fuel excise as petrol prices soar to record highs.

John Howard paused the excise about 20 years ago, with Senator Rex Patrick calling for the government to do the same.

E10 petrol has hit $2.19 in parts of Sydney.

Mr Taylor told Ben Fordham “it’s not something we have in our plans”.

“The excise is used to fund road spending … when I drive around during the floods I see how much work has to go into our roads … that has to be paid for.”

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Image: Getty/Tracey Nearmy