Darwin drivers being gouged on fuel with mark-up of almost 40 cents a litre

DARWIN motorists are being gouged by close to 40c a litre more than what sellers can buy fuel for at the wholesale price – and it comes at a time of collapsing oil prices.

Darwin motorists are being gouged by close to 40c a litre more than what sellers can buy fuel for at the wholesale price – and it comes at a time of collapsing oil prices. Picture: Trevor Veale / The Coffs Coast Advocate

• No fuel price relief in sight for Territory motorists

DARWIN motorists are being gouged by close to 40c a litre more than what sellers can buy fuel for at the wholesale price.

And it comes at a time of collapsing oil prices.

The terminal gate price for unleaded fuel on Tuesday was 85c/l, yet in the Darwin CBD and the northern suburbs the average selling price was 123.7c/l.

The cheapest petrol on Tuesday was 109.9c/l at United Howard Springs.

This was followed by independent fuel outlet FuelXpress, which was selling at 117.5c/l at its Winnellie and Palmerston outlets.

Fuel outlets from Pinelands to Coolalinga were selling unleaded fuels for around 119c/l.

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Chief Minister Michael Gunner said on Tuesday he had written to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Public Accounts Committee to watch the Territory’s fuel prices.

“I do not want Territorians to be gouged. If they are being gouged, get the companies up here, make them explain themselves,” Mr Gunner said.

“We are essentially seeing a massive oversupply in this country that’s leading to movement in the fuel prices but I am keeping a close eye on it.

“I do not want Territorians to be ripped off, but the way it’s been explained to me is that we have a weird market that’s forming at the moment around fuel because we’ve got a lot more fuel than we would normally use.”

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In Melbourne on Tuesday the average price for unleaded petrol was around 98c/l, with some locations as low as 84.9c/l.

In Brisbane, unleaded fuel was as low as 75c/l but the average was closer to 91c/l.

Sydney petrol is as low as 77.9c/l with the average 91c/l.

Prices fluctuated widely in Adelaide, the lowest 94.7c/l and the average at 116c/l.

Perth was around 85c/l.

Cairns and Townsville were selling fuel for an average 118c/l.

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Darwin’s petrol stations say they have seen less traffic due to the coronavirus, which prevented any major reduction in the price of fuel at the bowser.

AANT chief executive Anthony Hill is on the record saying regardless of other states’ fuel prices, the cost of fuel in the NT should drop.

“These prices must come down, Territorians are doing it tough right now,” he has told the NT News.

“This is not a time for fuel retailers to be gouging.”