Call for Townsville fuel retailers to drop their prices
Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson is calling on fuel retailers to do the right thing and drop their prices, given the steep drop in oil prices and the COVID-19 health emergency.
Mr Thompson said it was completely unfair that drivers in surrounding towns were paying up to 30 cents per litre less for unleaded fuel, than those in Townsville.
“This is absolutely disgusting behaviour. It’s price gouging of the highest order,” Mr Thompson said.
“There’s been a sharp fall in oil prices in the last few weeks, and there is no reason the fuel stations shouldn’t be passing their savings on to drivers.
“There are so many people in our community doing it tough at the moment, and it’s unacceptable that these multi-million dollar businesses are lining their pockets while our community is hurting.”
Fuel prices in Ayr have been reported as lower than a dollar a litre, while in Townsville, retailers are still charging as much as 129.9 cents a litre.
“The RACQ says the fair price for fuel in Townsville today is 101.4 cents a litre. That’s almost 30 cents less than what many fuel stations are charging,” Mr Thompson said.
“I’m calling on fuel stations to immediately drop their prices at the bowser to reflect the fair price, and stop inflicting more pain on the people of Townsville, who are already struggling to get by.”
The ACCC has been monitoring prices, costs and profits relating to the supply of petroleum products in the petroleum industry in Australia but cannot control the petrol prices companies set.
ENDS