Real price of petrol focus of government reform

Have you ever been caught by a cheap petrol price advertised, then found it only applied if you had a discount voucher or bought more products in store?

There are reforms underway in Queensland to prevent this confusion at petrol stations.

Community and industry consultation has started and the Queensland government plans to ban the display of discounted prices on fuel price boards that are only available to motorists who have a discount voucher or make an in-store purchase.

The strict new regulations should be signed off by mid-year and service station owners then given six months to implement the changes which would take effect from January 2018.

Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply Mark Bailey said we have on-going concerns that some motorists may be paying more at the bowser than they were initially led to believe.

“Under our proposed reforms, fuel retailers will still be able to offer and promote discount fuel price schemes, just as long as the full prices available to all motorists are displayed,” Mr Bailey said.

The main elements of the proposed laws are a ban on the display of conditionally discounted prices on fuel price boards, such as those that require a discount voucher or an in-store purchase: and the coordination of prices changes so motorists never pay more at the pump than the price advertised on the board.

Mr Bailey said the government was committed to regulatory reform of fuel price boards following the Fuel Price Summit in 2016 and support for the change expressed by stakeholders including the RACQ.

“Consensus at the summit was that the regulatory model in place in South Australia and Victoria is the preferred approach.

“The new regulations the Palaszczuk Government is proposing adopts this model.”

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Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath said the draft laws have now been released for community and industry consultation.

“We want to ensure the Government gets the right balance of protecting consumers and also avoiding high regulatory costs which could unintentionally push petrol prices up, which we must avoid,” Ms D’Ath said.

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RACQ spokesperson Paul Turner said regulation of petrol price boards would give the power back to motorists.

“Current price boards displaying discounts are confusing and designed to lure motorists into service stations under the guise of lower prices,” Mr Turner said.

“Fairer fuel price signage will empower motorists and bring Queensland into line with advertising standards in several other States.

“The regulation will even the playing field by forcing all retailers to advertise the true price. This will also allow motorists to make informed choices about where they want to fill up.”

Mr Bailey said calls for truth in advertising petrol pricing had long been a burning issue for motorists.

Queensland motorists and the fuel industry are encouraged to have their say on the proposed fuel price board regulations by visiting www.dews.qld.gov.au/our-department/consultations.

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