Mandatory price reporting win for drivers

THE drop in fuel prices has come at the perfect time for Caitlin Knight.

The Cairns resident will set off on a four-day trip to Victoria in early January before starting a Master of Clinical Neuropsychology at Mel- bourne University later in the year.

Ms Knight said she had noticed fuel prices slowly dropping across the Far North over the past few weeks. “It is great timing,” she said. “It is going to reduce the cost of moving down south on top of everything else I have to pay for in the new year.”

She said she planned to use fuel price apps and websites to keep an eye on where to fill up on her drive south.

Last month, fuel retailers across the state were forced to take part in the Queensland Government's fuel price reporting trial. From December 3, motorists have been able to check local prices via websites and apps such as Motormouth, GasBuddy and the RACQ.

The mandatory two-year fuel price reporting trial requires all fuel retailers in Queensland to report their fuel prices to the above portals within 30 minutes of a price change at the bowser.

Mandatory fuel price reporting is designed to make it easier for motorists to take advantage of the fuel price cycle to find the best deal.

However, it will not stop the price cycle that motorists experience around the world.

Industry stakeholders from the RACQ and the Australian Institute of Petroleum assisted the government in developing the trial.