The Minister for Financial Services & Regulation, Joe Hockey, today said NSW Fair Trading Minister John Watkins should take a close look at his own backyard before attacking the Federal Government about petrol prices.
"The ACCC issued a report 3 years ago which spelt out ways the States and territories could make rural petrol prices more like city levels. So far, there has been no action from NSW," the Minister said.
Can Mr Watkins answer the following questions:
- What is NSW doing to persuade local councils to free up zoning laws so rural petrol retailers can expand their businesses?
- Why was it that a major supermarket retailer who wanted to set up a petrol station in Albury could only get planning approval for a site more than 100 km away?
- What is the NSW Government doing so country petrol retailers can sell other products, such as groceries, newspapers and magazines to make their businesses more profitable and rely less on petrol margins?
- What has NSW done to encourage other businesses, such as Woolworths, into petrol retailing?
- What is NSW doing to encourage more flexible opening hours for petrol retailers?
- Why have Mr Watkins and the NSW Government taken more than three years to begin implementing the ACCCs recommendations on petrol signage?
- What does Mr Watkins think the current State Petrol Franchise Fees arrangement does to petrol prices?
- What is NSW doing to encourage rural business people and farmers to form buying groups so they can buy cheaper petrol?
"If Mr Watkins is so concerned about petrol price rises, he should follow Queenslands lead and abolish the franchise fees on petrol," the Minister said
"Mr Watkins should be fixing up his own backyard before worrying about what others are doing to bring rural petrol prices down." In the meantime, the ACCC will continue informal price monitoring.
The Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs overwhelmingly rejected Mr Watkins 10-point plan. "It was a political stunt and it was treated as such by the Commonwealth, States and Territories who were looking for real solutions for Australian consumers."