Fuel companies in for a grilling over the Territory’s high petrol prices

ACCUSATIONS service stations are gouging Territorians at the bowsers will be settled on Friday, with a meeting with petrol bosses to reveal why Territorians are coughing up more each time they refuel.

Fuel Xpress manager Pat O’Connell says fuel merchants are simply keeping prices where they can to survive, with a drop in demand raising prices. Picture: Elise Derwin

• Darwin drivers being gouged on fuel
• No fuel price relief in sight for Territory motorists

ACCUSATIONS service stations are gouging Territorians at the bowsers will be settled on Friday, with a meeting with petrol bosses to reveal why Territorians are coughing up more each time they refuel.

Two weeks ago Chief Minister Michael Gunner ordered an interrogation with petrol companies over fuel prices, or a date in court if they refused.

But after a fortnight of monitoring petrol prices, Public Accounts Committee chair Kate Worden said it was time to ask questions.

“The Chief Minister is rightly concerned that the price reductions we’re seeing in other states aren’t happening to the same extent here, and he wants an explanation,” she said.

“The Public Accounts Committee are meeting on Friday and it’s my expectation we will set up a hearing into this as soon as possible.”

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Mr Gunner has also contacted consumer affairs, with ACCC chair Rod Sims saying it wasn’t appropriate for petrol stations to gouge motorists who were trying to live through the pandemic.

“At this time the Australian economy needs all the assistance it can get, and lower world crude oil prices are one of the few positives from current world events,” he said.

“In the larger Australian capital cities, petrol retailers took too long to pass on the savings from the rapid drop in international oil prices, and this did not reflect well on them.”

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However Fuel Xpress manager Pat O’Connell said fuel merchants were simply keeping prices where they could to survive, with a drop in demand raising prices.

“We’ve dropped our prices five times this month. It not as if we’re not being fair,” he said.

“Our revenues have fallen significantly, take Easter for example, there was no recreation, no camping, no fishing, the kids have been at home, no sporting events happening … the list goes on and on and on.

“Over Easter we were down 80 per cent for our usual sales so we’re fighting for survival.”