CEDAR VALE motorist Teresa Harper was already paying more than $200 per week in petrol costs before a four-year price spike hit south-east Queenslanders this month.
Queensland’s peak motoring body, RACQ, has revealed 90 per cent of Brisbane petrol stations have jacked up prices above 160 cents per litre for the first time since July 2014.
Ms Harper said the radical jump in fuel costs were impossible to budget for.
“It is particularly hard for me because of my work...I’m a consultant and I have to travel to the north side (of Brisbane) and my work(load) has just increased,” she said
“There needs to be more pressure on fuel companies to justify why they are putting (prices) up because it can’t be based on a whim.
“You can’t budget if they can go from 120 cents per litre to more than 160 cents.”
Ms Harper said she wanted to see governments step in and investigate why fuel prices radically fluctuate.
Queensland LNP opposition leader Deb Frecklington weighed into the debate.
“I understand that household budgets are hurting, which is why I announced the LNP would introduce real-time fuel price monitoring more than nine months ago,” she said,
“Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to stop dithering and bring in real-time fuel price monitoring.”
The Queensland Labor Palaszczuk government announced a two-year trial of fuel monitoring would start in December, 2018.
This will see prices published on smartphone apps and websites including Motormouth, GasBuddy, Petrol Spy and RACQ.
RACQ spokesperson Lucinda Ross said a modest rise in global oil prices did not justify the exorbitant cost being passed on to consumers.
“As drivers we have no control over the global price of oil,” she said.
“But what is really frustrating is Brisbane fuel company margins are higher than the other large capitals in Australia. That’s why we keep calling on drivers to shun the retailers charging the highest prices, and support the cheapest servo in their area.
Ms Ross said major fuel companies, including BP, Coles and Caltex were the worst offenders when it came to price hikes.
“We know there’s often a 20 to 30 cent per litre difference between the top and bottom of the Brisbane market at any time...” she said.
Jimboomba and Beaudesert petrol prices
Caltex Yarrabilba
- E10: 160.9
- Unleaded: 162.9
- Diesel: 159.9
Logan Village BP
- Unleaded: 162.9
- Diesel: 157.9
North Maclean BP
- Unleaded: 162.9
- Truck diesel: 156.9
- Diesel: 158.9
North Maclean Caltex
- Unleaded: 162.9
- Diesel: 158.9
- Truck diesel: 156.9
Greenbank Caltex
- E10: 159.9
- Unleaded: 161.9
- Unleaded 95: 173.9
- Diesel: 155.9
Greenbank 7/11 Mobil
- E10: 159.9
- Unleaded: 161.9
- Diesel: 155.9
Flagstone 7/11 Mobil
- E10: 159.9
- Unleaded: 161.9
- Diesel: 155.9
Jimboomba Caltex
- E10: 159.9
- Unleaded: 161.9
- Unleaded 95: 173.9
- Diesel: 155.9
Jimboomba BP
- E10: 160.9
- Diesel: 162.9
Jimboomba Coles Shell
- E10: 161.4
- Unleaded: 162.9
- Diesel: 159.9
Beaudesert Caltex
-Unleaded 151.9
- Diesel: 159.9
Beaudesert Bio Gas
-Unleaded 151.9
- Diesel: 159.9
NOTE: Prices current from 11am, September 11.
