Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor says the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) spotlight on petrol prices is welcome news for Highlands motorists.

Mr Taylor welcomed the findings of an ACCC (Dec 2015) quarterly report https://www.accc.gov.au/publications/quarterly-report-on-the-australian-petroleum-industry/quarterly-report-on-the-australian-petroleum-industry-february-2016 revealing average monthly retail prices in locations including Moss Vale, Mittagong and Goulburn. He said greater transparency was paramount to resolving discrepancies.

“The ACCC has found that although average retail petrol prices fell from the September quarter to the December quarter (2015) in regional centres, the margins retailers were making were unreasonably high.

“On the ACCC website, you can clearly see petrol prices for Mittagong were an average 132.7 cents a litre (September quarter 2015), falling only 1.2 cents to 131.5 cents a litre (December quarter 2015). While in Moss Vale, only 15km away, average prices were 144.9 cents a litre (Sept quarter 2015) falling by 8.9 cents to 136 cents a litre (Dec quarter 2015). These are high prices compared to Goulburn where the average was 129.8 cents a litre (Sept quarter 2015) falling 7.6 cents to 122.2 cents a litre (Dec quarter 2015). And we all know it’s further to deliver petrol to Goulburn than to the Highlands.

“Thank you to all residents who’ve sent in photos of price discrepancies. These will be included in a submission my office is making to the ACCC.”

Mr Taylor said he would be calling on the ACCC to look into reasons behind higher prices in the highlands and price discrepancies between petrol retailers.

“If it’s a lower level of local competition, then we need to bring in more outlets,” Mr Taylor said.

“There will be further assistance for motorists from May this year, with the Federal Court ruling that petrol prices exchanged between retailers also be made available free to consumers and third parties including app developers.”

Caption: Photo sent to Radio 2ST of petrol prices on the morning of Friday February 5 after Angus Taylor urged motorists to send in proof of price discrepancies.