Katter highlights fuel price disparity in Far North Queensland

Kimberley Vlasic, 22 April 2016

FEDERAL Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has made a flying visit to Innisfail to highlight the disparity in fuel prices between Far Northern towns.

The Katter’s Australian Party leader said he found ­unleaded petrol was up to 30¢ a litre cheaper in Innisfail than in Cairns.

It comes as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission prepares to launch an investigation into the Cairns fuel market in res­ponse to high petrol prices.

Fuel retailers will be ­required to justify their pricing structure and other stakeholders are invited to make a submission to the ACCC.

“We not only welcome the ACCC inquiry but we will be presenting evidence before it,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter has called for greater investment in the ethanol industry, which he believes will reduce the cost of fuel while bolstering the sugar ­industry.

“We are the only country on earth that won’t go to ethanol,” he said. “The Government is completely controlled by big ­corporations.”

Extracted in full from the Cairns Post.