Palaszczuk Government acting on fuel price board reform

The Palaszczuk Government is continuing work to protect motorists from confusion at petrol bowsers through reforms to legislation governing fuel price boards.

Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply Mark Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government was determined to end the confusion motorists face when filling their cars with petrol.

“Following the Fuel Price Summit in 2016, the Palaszczuk Government committed to regulatory reform of fuel price boards and is continuing to liaise with stakeholders including the RACQ and petroleum industry in our work to implement them,” Mr Bailey said.

“At the same time, the Department of Energy and Water Supply has been working with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General on the draft regulation.

“Once finalised, the draft regulation will be released soon for public consultation.

“Industry consultation is essential to ensure the Government gets the right balance of consumer protection while avoiding high regulatory costs which could unintentionally push petrol prices up – something this Government wants to avoid.”

Mr Bailey said consensus at the Fuel Price Summit was that the regulatory model now in place in South Australian and Victoria is the preferred approach.

“This model bans the display of conditionally discounted prices on fuel price boards that are only available to motorists that have a shopper docket or similar voucher,” he said.

“Under this model all retailers must show only the full price of fuel that is available to all motorists instead of displaying potentially misleading or confusing prices to passing motorists. 

“However fuel retailers will still be able to offer and promote discount fuel price schemes as long as only the full undiscounted price is displayed on the fuel price board.”

Mr Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government was committed to regulatory reform of petrol price boards unlike the LNP who failed to deliver these reforms when in government.

“The Nicholls-Newman government were all talk and no action, promising Queenslanders petrol price board reform and delivering nothing despite their record majority and three years to do so,” he said.

“It’s important that we achieve the right balance of consumer protection and avoiding high regulatory costs which could unintentionally push petrol prices up.” 

ENDS

Media contact:

Zoe Russell - 0428 079 640