RACQ Annual Fuel Price Report reveals cheapest and most expensive suburbs to fill up in Queensland

Premier David Crisafulli has confirmed he had asked his cabinet to have a look at different models to combat rising fuel costs following renewed calls for a cost-of-living intervention.

Brisbane drivers paid a record high average price for unleaded fuel in 2024. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

A cap on daily fuel price hikes will be considered by the state government Premier David Crisafulli has said, after a surge in petrol prices in Queensland sparked renewed calls for cost-of-living intervention.

The RACQ’s Annual Fuel Price Report for 2024 shows Brisbane motorists paid an average 194.5c per litre for regular unleaded, exceeding the 2023 record by 1.4c per litre.

The report also revealed Brisbane was once again ranked the most expensive capital city in the nation for fuel.

In Western Australia service station must notify the state’s “Fuel Watch” transparency at 2pm each day of what their prices will be the following day. Those prices are then “locked in” for 24 hours from 6am so motorists can decide where to buy fuel.

The RACQ report noted motorists in Perth paid an average 13c less per litre than those in Brisbane.

A man filling up his car with fuel in Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / John Gass

The peak motoring body has repeatedly called for the state government to put in place a 5-cent daily increase limit.

Mr Crisafulli confirmed he had asked his cabinet to have a look at different models, like what is in place in Perth, to determine what the government should do.

“There are mixed reports about how effective that is, but it’s something that we owe to Queenslanders to look at,” he said.

“We also owe Queenslanders to do everything we can to drive down their cost of living across the board.”

Mr Crisafulli said there also needed to be a review of the planning system to “give every opportunity” to increase service station competition and therefore bring down prices at the bowser.

“(Daily price caps) is something we are reviewing. There are mixed reports, but we’ll do everything we can to try and find a system that can lower people’s cost of living and fuel is one,” he said.

In Brisbane the most expensive suburbs were Milton (205.7), Mount Ommaney (204.7), Jindalee (204.2), Salisbury (203.3), and Toowong (203.1), while the cheapest suburbs were Kuraby (176), Deagon (178.5), Zillmere (183.7), Bracken Ridge (184), and Moorooka (184.1).

Elsewhere in southeast Queensland like the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and Ipswich also saw expensive prices.

On the Gold Coast the most expensive suburb was Coombabah (203.3), while the cheapest suburb was Molendinar with (173.6).

On the Sunshine Coast, Coochin Creek (204.9) was the most expensive suburb, while Palmview (177) was the cheapest.

Meanwhile at Ipswich, the most expensive suburb was North Ipswich (209.5), while Walloon (180.4) was the cheapest suburb.

Outside of South East Queensland, Longreach and Mount Isa ranked as the most expensive towns to fill up in, with prices at 214.9cpl and 209.1cpl respectively.

Meanwhile, Dalby was the cheapest town to fill up in at 175.6cpl, followed by Gladstone and Bundaberg.

Fuel prices hit over 230cpl in Brisbane in March, 2024. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / John Gass

Opposition Transport spokesman Bart Mellish said the time for looking at solutions to petrol price pain in Brisbane was over and demanded the Premier make a decision that would offer cost of living relief to Queenslanders.

“We’ve had over six months to look at this proposal,” he said.

“We (Labor) put ours out there in August last year, to the election.

“The time for the Premier to act is now.

“We look at things until the cows come home but people are going to be paying more at the bowser every single day until the Premier acts.”

RACQ economist and affordability specialist Ian Jeffreys, in light of the latest fuel price report, called for government intervention and regulation to curtail high fuel prices.

“The increased average price reflected an increase in retail margins and provided further evidence of a failing market and the need for regulation,” he said.

“Last year average indicative retail margins for regular unleaded in Brisbane were 21.4c per litre, 4c per litre higher than 2023 and more than 7c per litre higher than 2022.

“We’re calling on the new government to reconsider RACQ’s proposal to impose a five-cent daily cap on fuel price increases across the state to bring an end to dramatic and unjustified price hikes.”

Dr Jeffreys said the report also highlighted significant price differences between two neighbouring Brisbane suburbs, with Salisbury among the most expensive, while nearby Moorooka ranked among the cheapest.

“Moorooka was one of the cheapest suburbs to fill up, costing drivers an average of 184.1cpl but the neighbouring suburb of Salisbury was one of the most expensive, with drivers there paying 19 cents more on average a litre,” Dr Jeffreys said.

There was some relief for diesel drivers in 2024, with the annual average price of 193.6cpl, 10 cents lower than the previous year.