Nola Marino (Forrest, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, that would work, given that this may be 50 or even 100 kilometres away!

Alan Cadd, the Managing Director of Informed Sources, an independent research company, told AM that analysis over the past three months shows that people in Perth are paying more for their petrol than those in Melbourne. He said:

Perth is 4.5 cents higher, but even if you look at those people who are able to buy on the lowest days of the week, Perth is still at least one cent a litre higher than Melbourne just by buying on the absolute lowest day each week.

Mr Cadd in fact urged the Prime Minister or someone in his department to contact the independent group of Informed Sources regarding the issue. In spite of the selective comments of the Prime Minister, the ACCC’s report on petrol prices states that the number of independent service stations has actually decreased in Perth since 2001—the period that Fuelwatch has been in operation. SSA chief executive Ron Bowden said:

Independent service station operators brought petrol discounting to Australia and their continued existence is vital if consumers are to have access to competitively priced petrol in the years ahead.

He went on to say:

Any initiative that reduces the ability of independents to compete fairly will only worsen the problems they already face in their daily battle with the supermarkets and the oil companies. They need relief, not more problems and comments like those from Jim Turnour—

the member for Leichhardt. He was reported to have said:

I am not concerned that FuelWatch is going to reduce the number of independents.

Well, Jim, I am. And I was appalled when I heard today—and I am sure that there are many across Australia who would have been appalled when they heard—the Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism describe the national price of fuel as ‘this little problem’. Let me tell the minister that it is a very big problem. Go to regional Australia, go to my electorate of Forrest, go to Elanora Villas—it does not matter where you go; it is a very, very big problem. Ultimately, I call on the Prime Minister to guarantee that no Australian will pay a cent more for fuel under Fuelwatch.

See this speech in context