Canberra pays more at the bowser

The Canberra Liberals will move in the Assembly for a fresh inquiry into why Canberra motorists are paying the highest capital-city petrol prices in the nation.

Canberra Liberals Leader Mark Parton said ACCC data shows Canberra is the most expensive capital for petrol, with the largest weekly jump in the week to 16 September, 17.3 cents a litre.

FuelCheck has Canberra about 10 cents a litre dearer than Queanbeyan. PetrolSpy had Unleaded 91 cheaper in Kalgoorlie, Katherine, Broken Hill and Hobart.

“Families are being slugged every time they fill up, and this chaotic ACT Labor Government cannot even say what it has asked the ICRC to do about it,” Mr Parton said.

“In Question Time last week, the Chief Minister could not give a clear answer. That is not a plan. That is chaos.”

Mr Parton said the Assembly held a Select Committee inquiry in 2019 and the ICRC examined petrol prices and competition. The Government then said the ICRC was the right body to monitor the market. Seven years on, the gap with the border has not gone away.

“Labor passed fuel-gouging laws in May and still cannot explain why Canberra costs more than Darwin or a mining town in NSW or WA. Motorists deserve better than another shrug of Andrew Barr’s shoulders.”

The motion asks the Standing Committee on Economics, Industry and Recreation to test whether the 2019 drivers still apply, whether the ICRC and Fair Trading tools are working, and to report interim findings by 3 December 2026 and a final report by 26 February 2027.

“Canberrans should not have to drive across the border to Queanbeyan to get a fair price. This Government needs to stop the chaos and front up on fuel.”

The Motion will be debated in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, 23 September.