Country Liberal Party’s fuel price disclosure bill debated in NT parliament
A move to make NT fuel retailers publish their profits has been fiercely debated in parliament. Here’s how the proposed law is likely to turn out.
Northern Territory
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A move to make NT fuel retailers disclose their profits has drawn controversy once again.
The Country Liberal Party made a case for its long-awaited fuel price disclosure Bill in parliament on Wednesday.
It marked the first time politicians formally debated the Bill since it was introduced in July.
The proposed legislation aims to force retailers to disclose their profits, in a bid to drive competition up and prices down.
However Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler said Labor would not support the Bill.
“In early October, the Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association CEO, Mark McKenzie – I am sure he wrote to you, opposition leader – labelled the bill ‘alarming’, saying it is a ‘bizarre proposal’ and ‘risks more business destruction in the Northern Territory’,” Ms Lawler said.
“He said it ‘demonstrates a dangerous lack of understanding of the competitive structures of the Australian fuel retail industry’.
“The price of fuel is a complex matter that is bigger than the Territory government and even the Australian government, for that matter.
“You can be assured that our government is doing what we can to make sure Territorians are getting a fair go at the fuel bowser.”
Ms Lawler said the MyFuel NT website, which lists prices at different fuel retailers in real-time, did enough to drive consumer choice.
Ms Lawler also said ACCC was monitoring fuel companies for price gouging.
“The Chief Minister wrote to the ACCC expressing the concerns of all Territorians of the high prices of fuel at the Territory bowsers and ask them to look at any consistently higher fuel prices in the Territory,” she said.
“To date, the ACCC has not identified anything untoward.”
Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said Territorians could thank the Labor government for high prices at the pump over the holiday season.
“For Labor to reject lower fuel prices and then kick the can down the road to the other side of Christmas at a time when families are struggling with the cost of living just beggars belief,” she said.
“We have spoken with Territorians in the malls, shopping centres, markets, and in the streets, as well as consulting with 247 organisations about the Bill and the common theme was that Territorians were getting ripped off.
“Labor chose to back big fuel while we will always back Territorians.”
Independent Mulka MLA Yingiya (Mark) Guyala said he would support the CLP when the Bill went to a vote, slated to be in February.
“Remote areas have suffered for a long time with high fuel prices” he said.
“Fuel prices in communities in my electorate have been ranging from $2.25 to $3.28 per litre, with most communities seeing prices over $3 a litre.”
On November 30, the average price of unleaded in Darwin was 186c/litre, MotorMouth data showed.
That figure is on average 8c/litre higher than other Australian capital cities besides Perth, which had an average of 194c/litre.
The average price of diesel in the Top End was up to 22c/litre higher than other cities.
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Originally published as Country Liberal Party’s fuel price disclosure bill debated in NT parliament
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