Queensland Cracks Down on Fuel Price Signs

Service stations could be made to post the real price of gas, rather than the discount rate, at big retail locations.

September 04, 2013

QUEENSLAND, Australia – Queensland service stations might be fined for not posting the full price of petrol instead of only the discount rate, the Courier Mail reports. The Queensland government is considering the move after more complaints from consumers about misleading price signs. Jarrod Bleijie, attorney general for the state, is looking into the issue of regulating fuel price boards.

The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) wants the state to mandate posting of full fuel prices to eliminate confusion. “In recent weeks we've seen unprecedented shopper docket discount offers from the major retailers, some of them up to 40 cents a liter, which we know aren’t available to every motorist and are ultimately reducing competition in the fuel market,” said Paul Turner, executive general manager advocacy for the group. “We want it to become a requirement that retailers display gross fuel prices before discounts, in an agreed order and using an agreed naming convention.”

The Service Stations and Convenience Stores Association also supports regulations for fuel boards. “Our members support it because currently price boards are confusing and they are misleading, and it's the general public who are confused and misled,” said Tim Kane with the association.

Bleijie said Queensland would likely mandate some rules but would do so with an eye to not overburden small businesses. “We will not go as far as New South Wales,” he said. “Its measures include standardizing even the size of lettering on signs, which would increase red tape and costs for small independent retailers of which 30% are in Queensland.”

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