Darwin fuel prices jump to one of the highest in Australia
DARWIN’S fuel prices have surged to among the highest in the nation — despite being the cheapest less than four months ago
Northern Territory
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern Territory. Followed categories will be added to My News.
DARWIN’S fuel prices have surged to among the highest in the nation — despite being the cheapest less than four months ago.
Fuel price comparison website Motormouth said the explanation for Darwin sitting at the top of the charts — around $1.40 per litre — was that every other capital has price cycles and Darwin doesn’t.
Motormouth spokeswoman Claire Onraet said fuel prices around the country went up at the start of January in line with the increase of crude oil and finished product prices.
“In any of the other five capital cities the prices cycle so they’ll change from one day to another by 20 cents a litre on the upward end and the prices will lower over a number of days ... and Darwin doesn’t cycle,” she said.
Ms Onraet said 2016 was a “good year” for buying petrol.
“From a price point of view it wasn’t all that long ago, 2013-2014, was up around the $1.60 mark and last year we were enjoying prices around the $1.30 mark and below,” she said. Price cycling is caused by various market pressures including the size of city’s population and the number of petrol stations in a city, Ms Onraet said.
“Motorists in other capitals will complain when prices surge 20c/l in a day but they have the benefit of competition, where as Darwin motorists know you won’t have significant fluctuation but you will miss out on getting those cheaper days.
“There are pro and cons to both situations depending on what your point of view is, Darwin is good from a budget perspective but in the other capitals you can time your petrol purchase right and make some pretty big savings.”
In 2014, the former CLP Government hosted a Darwin fuel summit to ask big companies why Territorians were charged more at the bowser.
It resulted in significant price drops for motorists.
Ms Onraet encouraged motorists to use the Motormouth website or app to keep an eye where the best fuel deals are.
‘See some records broken’: First medals given out as ‘Games with Heart’ kicks off
One of the biggest weeks on the Red Centre sporting calendar is underway in full force, drawing thousands of competitors – some of whom have already taken out the top prize. SEE THE PICTURES.
Fire fears as heritage-listed mural sits forgotten after $3m acquisition
A fire danger period being declared hasn’t spurred the government into action over a site it acquired for more than $3 million – leading to fears an important piece of NT heritage could be reduced to ash.