The Minister for Small Business and Assistant Treasurer the Hon Kelly O’Dwyer today welcomed the ACCC’s announcement that Cairns will be the subject of the ACCC’s fourth in-depth study into regional fuel markets in Australia.
Minister O’Dwyer said that the Coalition Government is committed to ensuring that fuel markets are operating effectively.
“In December 2014 the Coalition Government issued the ACCC with a new fuel monitoring direction. This new direction gives the ACCC greater scope to analyse the drivers of fuel prices.
“The ACCC’s detailed market study will allow for a greater understanding of what factors are driving the higher petrol prices in Cairns. It should also provide some understanding of why petrol prices in Queensland regional locations are also as high as they are.
“The ACCC released the first deep dive study into the Darwin petrol market last November. We also look forward to the outcome of the ACCC’s in-depth regional studies into the Launceston and Armidale fuel markets which are currently underway, and likely to be completed in coming months,” Minister O’Dwyer said.
“The ACCC will be assessing the entire market from wholesale supply to the petrol pump. This gives us far greater insight as to the factors affecting petrol prices than the Rudd Government’s failed ‘Fuel Watch’.
“The Local Member for Leichardt, Warren Entsch MP, advocated strongly on the need for a study into the Cairns petrol market with prices at the pump around 12 cents per litre more than the average prices paid by consumers in capital cities.
“I know Warren is pleased that this study will be conducted in Cairns as it will shed light on why Cairns petrol prices are higher than most capital cities,” Minister O’Dwyer said.
For more information visit the ACCC's consultation hub.