Ban plan means bowser price hike
FAR North families could bear the brunt at the bowser under a controversial plan to reduce fuel emissions.
The Australian Automobile Association has warned motorists face huge fuel price increases if a government proposal to ban regular 91 octane unleaded by 2020 goes ahead.
Drivers would be forced to buy premium 95 octane unleaded and add hundreds to their yearly fuel bill.
The peak motoring group urged the Government to rule out the proposal in a pre-budget submission presented to the Coalition.
Based on yesterday’s fuel prices in Cairns CBD, Far Northerners would fork out an extra $423.28 per year.
This is based on filling up a standard Holden Commodore driving an average of 15,000 kilometres a year. The 11 cent difference per litre, or $8.14 per tank extra cost is not welcomed by motorists like Cairns grandfather, Nimo Wosomo.
Mr Wosomo, a fencing contractor, travels from Cairns to Darwin and as far south as Bundaberg looking for work.
He said it costs him between $80 and $90 to fill up his Toyota, which he also uses to drive his two-year-old grandson, Rowan Samai.
“Nah it is not cheap. It is too much for fuel,” he said. “I do fencing on cattle stations.
“I have work down in Bundaberg on Monday so I will have to travel down for that.”
The measure is one of five key proposals the Government is actively considering and was outlined in a discussion paper that was released in December last year.
Last year 91 octane unleaded accounted for 69 per cent of all fuel sales nationally.