PROPER PETROL INQUIRY A MUST
A NORTH Queensland consumer advocate is calling for a royal commission into fuel prices to tackle the soaring costs of a trip to the bowser.
Inaugural North Queensland Consumers Association president Ken Kipping, a longtime consumer advocate, has rallied the support of Townsville- based politicians to push for a fair go for consumers who are being burdened by the skyrocketing price of petrol.
“We’re calling for a royal commission into fuel prices because it will take that to get the industry to change,” Mr Kipping said. “People have been hurting for many years, it just goes on and on.
“There’s been no action and now it’s time for action.”
Mr Kipping said the issue had been ongoing for 10 to 15 years but it was now coming to a head.
“We don’t want the oil industry to go broke, but we want a fair go and more transparency for consumers,” he said.
Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole said she had written to the ACCC numerous times to ask for a market study to be conducted to explain why the fuel in Townsville is so expensive.
She said she would welcome any initiative, including a royal commission, that would answer the questions that the people of Townsville had regarding fuel costs.
“The people of Townsville are fed up with the high cost of fuel,” she said. “The people of Townsville deserve an explanation detailing why our fuel cost is so high.”
Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said the cost of fuel had always been an issue for North Queenslanders.
“Many North Queenslanders feel we’re ripped off at the bowser,” Mr Harper said.
“I’d be happy to support Ken in my capacity as a state member, this is about an opportunity for all levels of government to stand up and say ‘ enough is enough – give us a fair deal at the bowser’.”
Mr Harper said the issue had been aired for years and commended Mr Kipping starting the conversation.
“There’s more to be done and it’s great we’ve got local community champions.”
The RACQ said recent price hikes were due more to increases in the global price of oil than petrol retailer margins – but that didn’t mean consumers couldn’t get a better deal.
“We’d like to see more competition in the Townsville for market because we know it’ll put downward pressure on prices,” spokeswoman Lucinda Ross said. “We often cop higher prices when compared to the southern states, and the ACCC recently found petrol station profits in Cairns were 38 per cent higher than the national average.”
The State Government recently committed to a realtime fuel price monitoring trial.