Northern Territory fuel prices expected to jump as national excise cut ends

Australian road-users are expected to suffer as the national petrol excise cut ends. Here’s how the Territory stacks up compared to the rest of the country when it comes to fuel prices.

Territorians, like all Australians, are likely to be slogged an extra 22c per litre at the bowser as the Federal Government’s fuel excise cut ends.

The temporary tax reduction has been in place for the past six months to ease cost of living pressures.

It finishes on Wednesday.

The Top End has some of the cheapest fuel around at the moment, with average prices miraculously levelling out to be in line with the rest of the country.

In early August, Territorians paid up to 30c more per litre for unleaded fuel compared to other capital cities.

Donny Nieva, from Leanyer, fills up at United Darwin CBD in Daly Street. Picture: Patrina Malone

On Monday, Darwin had the lowest average unleaded price of all capital cities, with prices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane at least 20c/litre higher than the Top End’s 170c/litre figure.

The latest MotorMouth data on fuel prices, which reports daily, also indicates Darwin’s average diesel price has levelled out with other capital cities at an average of 207 cents/litre.

Average diesel prices are only noticeably lower in Adelaide and Perth, which are about 195c/litre.

It is a completely different story, however, in the NT’s remote regional centres.

The average price of both unleaded and diesel is about 50c/litre higher in Alice Springs than in Darwin.

Opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro has previously called for a formal inquiry into NT fuel prices.

“Territorians are getting ripped off at the pump and that pain will get worse,” Ms Finocchiaro said.

“Natasha Fyles needs to stop siding with the big fuel companies and instead back our plan to drive down fuel prices with legislation that forces fuel retailers to shape up.”

Leader of the Opposition Lia Finocchiaro wants an inquiry into Top End fuel prices. Picture: Floss Adams

A NT Government spokeswoman said Ms Fyles would continue to look at ways to keep retailers accountable.

“The Territory Labor Government will always take necessary steps to promote competition, prevent opportunistic profiteering, and reduce the cost of living,” she said.

“Our mandatory fuel price reporting scheme, MyFuelNT, is one example that has promoted greater transparency and provided crucial real-time price data to consumers.”

At the time of Ms Finocchiaro’s calls for a formal inquiry, Ms Fyles said she had written to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and fuel companies around Australia.

The NT government has not answered questions put by the NT News on the outcome of those letters.

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Originally published as Northern Territory fuel prices expected to jump as national excise cut ends