RACQ says ‘no good reason’ for Brisbane residents to pay highest petrol prices in the country

BRISBANE motorists are paying more for fuel than those in any other Australian capital city and there’s no good reason for it.

The RACQ tells motorists to shop around in the face of high petrol prices.

BRISBANE motorists are paying more for fuel than those in any other Australian capital city and there’s no good reason for it.

That’s the message from RACQ, the state’s peak motoring body, whose monthly fuel price report for June showed Brisbane drivers were slugged on average 144 cents a litre at the bowser.

“Motorists were hit hard in June with the ULP average 6.6 cpl (cents per litre) higher than in May,” RACQ spokeswoman Renee Smith said.

“This was completely unjustified.”

The report, released on Tuesday, showed Hobart drivers were next worst off, having to pay on average 142.8 cents a litre in June, followed by Canberra (142.2 cents a litre) and Sydney (141.2 cents a litre).

Darwin drivers enjoyed the cheapest fuel, paying 134.5 cents a litre on average — almost 10 cents a litre less than their Brisbane counterparts.

Ms Smith said the average retail margin in Brisbane of 12.6 cents a litre was about five cents a litre higher than was fair.

She said the high prices meant it was important for motorists to shop around.

“Send a message to service stations that are overcharging by supporting those keeping their prices down,” she said.

JUNE CAPITAL CITY FUEL PRICES (cents a litre)

* Brisbane — 144

* Hobart — 142.8

* Canberra — 142.2

* Sydney — 141.2

* Adelaide — 140.1

* Melbourne — 138.5

* Perth — 138.1

* Darwin — 134.5

(Source: RACQ)