Australia’s consumer watchdog is having a big sniff around fuel prices – as the cost of motoring was identified as an “important concern” to 88% of those recently surveyed by the Automobile Association.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s investigation into petrol prices in rural areas has expanded to Cairns – one of the most expensive places in the country to top up your tank – has been lauded by the AAA.
The motoring advocate has long campaigned for the government to take a close look at rural fuel pricing.
Recent polls that it commissioned revealed that the cost of cars and motoring, including fuel, was an important concern for 88% of Australians and is the top concern for 19%
“It’s not uncommon for the average prices in regional areas to be 15 or 20 cents per litre higher than in the city,” says association chief Michael Bradley, “and in many cases this simply can’t be explained by higher transport costs.”
The ACCC kicked off three investigations last year – in Cairns, Armidale and Launceston – and there are signs the probes are forcing oil companies to pull back their prices.
“Following the announcement of the ACCC’s Darwin market study in March 2015, monthly average petrol prices in Darwin in June 2015 were $134.9 per litre, which was six cents lower than in the five largest cities. This was the first time that monthly average Darwin prices were lower since the ACCC started to regularly collect Darwin prices in January 2000.
“Because of the effectiveness of the ACCC in helping Australians get better fuel prices, the AAA in its budget submission has called on the government to renew its commitment to the ACCC. We look forward to seeing the ongoing commitment to the ACCC’s fuel monitoring activities in the upcoming Federal Budget,” Bradley notes.
Join the conversation