Sydney  - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced Monday that Australia would be represented at a meeting of major oil-producing and oil-consuming countries in Saudi Arabia next week.

Rudd is under pressure over fuel prices with an opinion poll showing nearly 80 per cent of voters in favour of a tax cut to bring prices down.

"The reality is with oil prices affecting economies right across the world and this global oil shock being the greatest that we've seen in 30 years, it affects all oil-consuming countries," Rudd said. "That's why it's important to attend this forum and a range of other forums which we will be attending as well."

Saudi Arabia, a leading member of OPEC, or the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, has invited representatives of producer and consumer nations, oil companies, exporters and traders to discuss price hikes Sunday. (dpa)