House debates

Thursday, 1 December 2016

Statements by Members

Fuel Prices

1:49 pm

Photo of Ann SudmalisAnn Sudmalis (Gilmore, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I am angry, and that does not happen often. It is about my local fuel prices, and many of my Gilmore residents are angry too. Peter says:

Once again Nowra is stuck in the high price cycle for petrol and for far too long. Shellharbour has unleaded petrol for $1.02 a litre and Barrack Heights $1.03 a litre, good old Nowra $1.36 a litre and it seems like forever. Oil is about $45 a barrel, so once again why doesn't fuel in Nowra go up and down like other areas instead of just up?

Yet in recent press articles the ACCC's statement that petrol prices are down in the last quarter and drivers are getting a good deal flies in the face of the reality for Gilmore drivers. Please tell me what parallel universe the analysts and data collectors of the ACCC are working in. For three years I have been encouraging residents to do the right thing and direct their complaints to the ACCC. Nowra, in particular, has several recorded time and price graphs that show a flat line, usually high, but in other towns they fluctuate. Surely this should raise a red flag. There are simply no viable, timely public transport routes in my community. This means many people living in my region are doubly impacted by hefty petrol prices and isolation from services—a mighty hit on the household budget. I have been advised that the ACCC will look into this matter. I do not believe it. I will be organising a petition in my region. We will get everybody involved. This apparent supply cartel affects residents, independent distributors and business in general. (Time expired)