On the Queen's Birthday on the June 2007 long weekend, I want to shine a spotlight on petrol pricing in the ACT.

I need your help!   Click here for my media release on this issue

Residents are sceptical and fed up with petrol prices going up before long weekends and on public service paydays, so by recording the local petrol prices around Canberra, I hope to help motorists at least shop around and find the cheapest petrol locally.

Over the next 5 days leading up to the weekend, we will take calls in my office from Canberrans with information about their local servo's petrol prices. In this way we can help shine a spotlight on pricing practices. 
(Although I note that Gungahlin residents are without a local service station and this is disgraceful!)

Possible useful links - please send any further suggestions for this section.

My Media Releases on the 'Shine a Spotlight on Petrol Prices' campaign

Monday

4pm DICKSON: Shell 140.9, Woolies 137.9,

4pm BRADDON: Shell 140.9, Mobil not listed on sign, Caltex 137.9, BP 137.9

6:30pm MANUKA: Shell 137.9

6:45pm MANUKA: Shell 140.9

Tuesday

8am DICKSON: Shell 140.9, Caltex 137.9

9am BRADDON: Shell 140.9, Mobil not listed on sign, Caltex 137.9, BP 137.9

8am MAWSON: Mobil 137.9, Caltex 137.9

3pm FYSHWICK: Mobil 142.9

BELCONNEN: Shell 137.9

4pm DICKSON: Shell 137.9

6pm KIPPAX: Caltex 137.9

Wednesday

8am DICKSON: Shell 137.9, Caltex 136.9

8.30am BRADDON: Shell 137.9, Mobil not listed on sign, Caltex 137.9, BP 136.9

10am MANUKA: Shell 139.9

10am DEAKIN: Shell 139.9

8am MAWSON: Mobil 136.9, Caltex 136.9

2pm KAMBAH: Caltex 136.9, Caltex/Woolworths 136.9

2pm HOLT: Caltex 136.9, Mobil 136.9

3pm TUGGERANONG: Caltex 136.9

10am KIPPAX: Caltex 136.9

ERINDALE: Mobil 136.9

Thursday

8am DICKSON: Shell 139.9, Caltex 139.9

8.30am BRADDON: Caltex 139.8, BP 139.9

8am MAWSON: Mobil 139.9, Caltex 139.9

1pm CURTIN: Shell 139.9

8am BELCONNEN: Caltex 136.9

5pm BELCONNEN: Caltex 139.9

ERINDALE: Mobil 139.9

Friday

8am DICKSON: Shell 139.9, Caltex 137.9

9am BRADDON: Shell 139.9, Mobil 139.9, Caltex 139.9, BP 138.9

8am MAWSON: Mobil 139.9, Caltex 139.9

8.30am BELCONNEN: Caltex 137.9

8 June 2007

Outcomes of the ‘Shine a Spotlight on Petrol Prices’ Campaign

This week Senator Kate Lundy has been asking ACT residents to call in with their local petrol prices to shine a spotlight on petrol prices in the lead up to the long weekend.

Wednesday 6 June was the cheapest day to purchase petrol this week  in the ACT costing on average 137.5 cents per litre, with prices creeping up 2-3 cents per litre on Thursday (139.6) and Friday (139.3).  

“It is disappointing that petrol prices in the ACT have remained high following the 12c per litre jump late last week”, Senator Lundy said today.

As the NRMA stated, it is remarkable that petrol prices have remained so high given that the price of oil internationally has been dropping.

" I think the ‘shine a spotlight’ campaign and close public scrutiny by local residents and local media has helped avoid another sharp price increase in the lead up to the long weekend.”  

“Calls for greater scrutiny by peak bodies like the NRMA, national media coverage and comments made by the ACCC have also helped to avoid another price hike in the ACT this week.”

“I call on John Howard to do two things to demonstrate his leadership on this issue.  Firstly, he needs to get the Treasurer to direct the ACCC to formally monitor petrol prices.”

“The Federal Government then needs to introduce legislation into the Parliament to amend the Trade Practices Act and give the ACCC the power to formally monitor petrol prices as it sees fit rather than at the whim of the Treasurer of the day”, Senator Lundy concluded. 

For more information, see:

      Contact: Rachel Allen 0418 488 295

4 June 2007 - Media Release

Shine a Spotlight on ACT Petrol Prices

Today Senator Lundy called on ACT residents to help monitor local petrol prices in the lead up to the Queens Birthday long weekend.

“The Canberra community is fed up with huge fluctuations in the price of petrol, there has definitely been a growing level of frustration as petrol prices continue to go through the roof”, Senator Lundy said.

“One thing the Howard Government could do is give the ACCC more power to conduct formal price monitoring. This would enable the ACCC to use compulsory information acquisition powers to obtain documents from any participant in the petrol supply chain.”

“The Government has failed to monitor petrol prices, that’s why I am today calling on Canberrans to help monitor the price of petrol in the ACT by calling my office with the price of petrol at their local service station.”

“If we shine a spotlight on fluctuations in petrol prices locally, we can help motorists find the lowest prices and put competitive pressure on providers to keep prices reasonable.” concluded.  

Labor’s policy supports giving the ACCC greater powers to monitor petrol prices under the Trade Practices Act.

What can you do to help shine a spotlight in petrol prices?

1. Check the price of petrol at your local petrol station
2. Call Senator Lundy’s office on 6230 0411 or e-mail rachel.allen@aph.gov.au to report your local petrol price by 3pm every day this week
3. Check Senator Lundy’s website at www.katelundy.com.au daily to find the latest petrol prices. Results will be posted on the website daily

Rachel Allen – 6230 0411 or 0418 488 295