New Zealand Doctor Invoices Us Embassy S$2,050 For Rising Petrol Prices

A doctor in New Zealand has sent an invoice to the U.S. embassy for rising petrol costs.

The doctor, Shane Dunphy, who runs a medical centre in Wellington, billed the embassy NZ$2,790.95 (S$2,050), according to The Guardian.

Says U.S. should be “held accountable”

In a letter accompanying the invoice, Dunphy said the U.S. should reimburse his clinic for fuel vouchers given to employees.

He claimed that rising fuel prices were caused by the ongoing conflict involving the U.S. and Iran, which has triggered a global energy crisis.

“The USA is responsible for this and therefore should be held accountable,” he wrote.

Dunphy added that his employees were struggling to afford petrol, and the clinic had to step in to help them commute to work and support their families.

Surging fuel prices

Fuel prices in New Zealand have significantly risen amid the conflict, spiking up to 50 cents per litre.

This has pushed the average price of unleaded fuel to more than NZ$3 (S$2.20) per litre.

The country is particularly vulnerable to such price shocks due to its reliance on global trade and supply chains.

"Payment is expected within seven days"

Dunphy said he sent the invoice as “a matter of principle”.

“If you break something, you should fix it,” he said, adding that countries should hold the U.S. accountable for the situation.

He also encouraged others to do the same, suggesting that individuals and businesses could send similar invoices to the U.S. embassy.

While he acknowledged that he does not expect the bill to actually be paid, he ended his letter with a clear message: “Payment is expected within seven days.”

Top image via Unsplash, Onslow Medical Centre