Call for Canberra petrol retailers to match Sydney's lower prices
The average price of regular unleaded petrol in Canberra was 19 cents per litre higher than in Sydney at close of business on Monday, prompting an angry message to fuel companies from the National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA).
Describing the price difference as preposterous, NRMA director Alan Evans called on petrol companies to pass on the same savings Sydney customers were enjoying at the bowser to people in the ACT.
"The supermarkets and their associated oil companies should be Santa Claus and not Scrooge to Canberra motorists," Mr Evans said.
"A large supermarket chain has capped prices in the Sydney metropolitan area at $1.14 or less until 4 January next year while independent retailers are offering regular unleaded in Sydney as low as $1.12 per litre.
"We would to see the petrol companies extend this Christmas gift to the Canberra market."
Unleaded fuel should be under $1.20 per litre: NRMA
Last week the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) was granted new powers to conduct special "deep dive" investigations into specific petrol markets.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr requested that one of the first investigations be into Canberra's high petrol prices.
"I don't think it's unreasonable at all that one of the first four, to be conducted in 2015, be into our market," he said.
Earlier in December discount retailer Costco opened a self serve, shopfront-free service station at Majura in Canberra's south.
On its first day of operation, the price of unleaded petrol at nearby service stations plunged 20 cents as Costco offered unleaded fuel for $1.29 a litre to members.
But the NRMA said the average price for unleaded in the ACT needed to fall to under $1.20 per litre.
"If more than half of Sydney's petrol stations are selling at under $1.18 per litre and making a profit, there is no reason why prices shouldn't be similar in Canberra," Mr Evans said.
"We would also like to see the average diesel price fall further from $145.1 per litre ranking Canberra just 31st cheapest across 54 NSW/ACT locations monitored by the NRMA."
