WITH up-to-date petrol prices around Cairns now available at the touch of a finger, local servos still not on board have three months to comply or cop large fines.
The State Government commenced a two-year trial of real-time fuel price reporting, requiring all petrol stations in Queensland, independent or corporate-owned to supply up-to-date fuel prices via an online portal to be used by fuel price apps and websites.
Under the new regulations, when a price changes, servos have half an hour to update the price information.
A Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy spokeswoman said single operators will be fined $2611, while large retailers could face fines of up to $13,000.
Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said over 90 per cent of Queensland retailers have come on-board, but a few still need time to get the systems in place.
“We’re encouraging all small independent retailers to get on board, which is why we have the three-month grace,” he said.
The free-to-register app MotorMouth is one of a number of apps supplying up to date fuel price information.
Non-suppliers will be shown in grey on the app, which currently includes a number of independent retailers such as Edge Hill and Stratford Service Station, as well as major retailers including several Mobil North and Coles Express sites around Cairns.
Once the system starts being enforced at the end for the three-month grace period, every dot on the map will need to be coloured.
Residents have welcomed the move, with Machans Beach resident Elena Fueger saying it would make it easier to hunt for the cheapest prices.
“I try to use the internet to look for the cheapest prices I can, but a lot of sites are not reliable,” she said.
“Usually the cheapest prices are in the areas outside of the city centre, so that’s where I go.”
Dr Lynham said the Department of Natural Resources would get in contact with all retailers still not signed up before the grace period ends.
Extracted from Daily Telegraph
