11 February 2016
AUSTRALIA’S competition watchdog is investigating BP’s conduct over its Lorne service station, with allegations that the company is blocking a new operator’s access to the site.
Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson said the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission would fast-track an inquiry into BP’s behaviour, ahead of the closure of its Lorne site this week.
“The head lessee of the site, Riordan Fuels, is now trying to negotiate to take over the petrol station with fuel from Shell,” Ms Henderson told Parliament yesterday.
“Unbelievably, BP is now blocking Riordan Fuels from accessing the site — in contravention of its lease agreement — so that Riordan cannot inspect the infrastructure until after BP departs and take whatever action is required to guarantee the integrity of the fuel it sells and quickly reopen the service station.”
Assistant Treasurer Kelly O’Dwyer has referred the matter to the ACCC. BP is closing its business on Monday.
Extracted in full from the Geelong Advertiser.
