Treasurer writes to ACCC to ensure fuel retailers pass on excise cut | ABC News Top Stories

The Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers says he's asked Australia's consumer watchdog to ensure newly announced cuts to the fuel excise will actually bring down prices for motorists.

Under the measures, agreed to by National Cabinet, a longstanding tax on petrol and diesel will be halved for three months from Wednesday, saving motorists about 26 cents per litre.

The heavy-vehicle road user charge will also drop to zero over the same period.

Victoria Police's Chief Commissioner Mike Bush has refused to say how officers came to find Dezi Freeman after the fugitive was shot dead this morning.

The 56-year-old was shot by police following a three hour stand-off at a remote property near Victoria's northern border.

Freeman has been on the run for seven months, after he killed two police officers at a property in Porepunkah last August.

US President Donald Trump says he wants to "take the oil in Iran" and could seize Kharg Island.

The US has its sights on the island because it's home to a major oil terminal - which is Iran's economic lifeline.

But, as thousands of US ground troops make their way to the Middle East, Mr Trump also says a peace deal could be reached "fairly quickly".