NT refers fuel "rip offs" to ACCC
The NT Government has reported fuel price “rip offs” to the ACCC.
NT’s Labor Government says it is “deeply concerned” by spikes in petrol prices in the greater Darwin region.
The Territory’s Treasury Department has referred the matter to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) this week.
The government is also introducing a new app to track petrol prices, which it says will help improve price transparency and competition.
The app cost $240,000 over two years to develop and will cost $250,000 ongoing from 2017 to 2018 for administration, compliance and enforcement.
Independent MLA Gerry Wood said the price gouge became apparent when he travelled across the NT.
“Every service station was 139.9 [cents per litre] and I thought; ‘Well that is a bit strange, I normally see a bit of variation”,” Mr Wood told the ABC.
He said the wholesale price for fuel had barely changed from around 121.3 cents per litre, while prices regularly popped above 130 cents per litre.
“So here we are going past these service stations last night, nearly nine cents dearer, with the gate price being exactly the same,” Mr Wood said.
“Either there has been collusion or there has just been a deliberate move to rip people off.”