The New South Wales government has initiated a series of compliance inspections at approximately 1,800 service stations to verify the accuracy of fuel pricing. This effort is part of a broader initiative aimed at ensuring transparency in fuel costs for consumers.
The Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading reported that during this enforcement operation, 93 penalty notices were issued, predominantly for discrepancies between displayed prices and those listed on the NSW FuelCheck platform.
In response to a notable increase in daily users of the FuelCheck app—now reaching 500,000—the government plans to invest over $2 million into enhancing the website and mobile application to better assist consumers in finding the best fuel prices.
Motorists in New South Wales are encouraged to report any service stations that significantly increase their petrol prices, as part of the government’s crackdown on potential price gouging amid ongoing supply challenges.
Fair Trading officers conducted inspections throughout the previous week to ensure that retailers were not misleading consumers regarding fuel prices, particularly following recent cuts to the fuel excise.
According to ABC News reporter Timothy Ailwood, the inspections revealed that at least 24 of the penalties issued stemmed from consumer complaints.
During the Easter long weekend, inspectors will be monitoring service stations from the Central Coast, just north of Sydney, to the state’s Central West region to enforce compliance.
Minister Chanthivong emphasized that the majority of the fines were related to instances where the price displayed at the pump did not match the price listed on the FuelCheck app, which is designed to provide real-time fuel pricing information.
He stated, “If a petrol station advertises a price of $2.15 for premium fuel, that is the price consumers should see at the pump.” He highlighted that discrepancies between the app and the actual price at service stations are illegal.
Penalties for such violations may include on-the-spot fines of $1,100, with potential fines reaching up to $22,000 for individuals and $110,000 for corporations.
To promote fair pricing practices, Mr. Chanthivong announced the government’s allocation of $2.2 million to enhance the data collection capabilities of the FuelCheck platform. The significant rise in users, from 10,000 to 500,000 daily by late March, reflects a growing demand for information on the lowest fuel prices.
The Minister remarked, “The government will not stand by while anyone attempts to exploit their fellow Australians, especially during these challenging times when global conflicts are driving up fuel costs, impacting the overall economy and increasing the burden on households.”
As of Sunday, reports indicated that 42 service stations were entirely out of fuel, with an additional 255 lacking one type of fuel and 145 out of diesel and/or premium diesel. All 2,400 service stations in New South Wales are required by law to register and report their fuel prices through the FuelCheck system.
