Perth woman files complaint after 30c petrol price surge in 20 minutes

Rising Fuel Prices Spark Consumer Concerns

A woman from Perth has raised concerns about a local petrol station after she claims the price of fuel increased by thirty cents within just 20 minutes. This incident has come to light as the consumer watchdog reports receiving numerous complaints about retailers allegedly taking advantage of the rising fuel prices.

Krystallea Taniora, who works with vulnerable individuals in mental health and aged care settings, shared her experience of trying to refuel both her car and her partner’s vehicle early on Monday morning. She aimed to beat the rising prices, which had averaged $2.16 per litre at the end of the previous week. When she arrived at a local petrol station north of Perth, the price was listed at $2.39 per litre. However, upon returning later that same day, she found the price had jumped to $2.69.

Taniora noted that the price advertised on FuelWatch remained unchanged. She expressed her frustration, stating that the situation left her feeling upset. The Western Australian 24-hour rule requires fuel retailers to submit their prices to FuelWatch by 2pm each day, with those prices remaining fixed for 24 hours starting from 6am the following day. Any changes during this period are not allowed.

At the counter, Taniora was offered a five-cent discount per litre by the attendant when she brought up the discrepancy. While she appreciated the gesture, she felt the issue was with the company rather than the staff member. Eventually, the attendant agreed to honor the FuelWatch price, but Taniora still felt dissatisfied with the overall experience.

She emphasized how the rising cost of living has impacted many people, particularly those with limited financial resources. “It might not seem like much, but $20 is a lot of money for some people,” she said. “It could be the difference between them being able to get bread and milk that day or not.”

Taniora reported the incident to both Consumer Protection and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), and she praised the agencies for their helpful response. “It just isn’t right, these companies profiteering off this,” she added.

Her complaint is part of a growing trend, with Consumer Protection reporting nearly a dozen similar cases. A spokesperson confirmed that they had received 11 inquiries and 11 complaints regarding discrepancies between retail fuel prices and those reported to FuelWatch or displayed on price boards since February 28. These figures correspond to the last three weeks, following the conflict between the United States and Israel, which disrupted important trade routes and caused fuel prices to soar.

Since February 28, Consumer Protection has fined three retailers for breaching FuelWatch rules, with more investigations ongoing. “More infringements could be issued,” the spokesperson said. “Due to privacy and confidentiality obligations, we cannot reveal further details about these traders.”

A Geraldton-based retailer was one of the first to be publicly fined for violating FuelWatch standards. The agency has also expanded its workforce across Western Australia to ensure compliance with pricing regulations. “Since the start of the Middle East conflict, our compliance officers have significantly increased the number and frequency of inspections of fuel outlets across the state to identify any pricing discrepancies,” the spokesperson explained.

The ACCC has not commented on the matter. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a new taskforce to coordinate fuel supply and security between federal, state, and territory governments. The Western Australian government followed suit by appointing Rob Cossart as the state’s fuel security controller and establishing a state management team.

“Our new Fuel Security State Controller and State Management Team will ensure our public sector is laser focused on addressing fuel security challenges and working closely with the Commonwealth Government in the interests of WA,” said Premier Mark McGowan.