Fuel Prices

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-167269

Hansard session: Fifty-Eighth Parliament, First Session (58-1)

Fuel Prices

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (14:31:05):

I move:

That this House:

(1)Recognises the impact of soaring petrol prices on families, commuters and businesses in the Oatley electorate.

(2)Notes the Opposition's policy to require petrol stations to set a daily maximum price to provide price certainty.

(3)Notes the Opposition's call for free public transport over the Easter long weekend to provide immediate cost-of-living relief.

(4)Calls on the Government to adopt these practical measures to ease pressure on households and businesses during these challenging times.

I am sure this motion will find consensus on both sides of the Chamber, and Government and crossbench members will run to support this commonsense motion. They are probably thinking this is a really good idea from the member for Oatley, and I agree. I move this important motion because petrol prices are not an abstract economic statistic; they are a weekly reality for families, commuters, tradies, small businesses and pensioners not only in my electorate of Oatley but also throughout New South Wales. Every time a resident pulls into a service station, they confront the same question: How much more is it going to cost this week?

For many families, fuel is not discretionary spending. It is not a luxury; it is an essential expense. People need to drive to work, take their children to school, attend medical appointments, run businesses and transport goods. When petrol prices soar, every aspect of the household budget comes under pressure. That is why this commonsense motion is so important. This House should recognise the impact that rising petrol prices have on families and businesses throughout New South Wales and acknowledge that people are crying out for practical solutions.

The cost-of-living crisis continues to hit working families hard. Families are facing higher grocery bills, electricity bills, insurance premiums, mortgages and rents. For many households, there is simply no room left in the family budget. When fuel prices spike, the pain is immediate. A family with multiple vehicles can see hundreds of dollars disappear from their monthly budget. Small businesses that rely on transport see their operating costs increase overnight. Transport delivery drivers and commuters are left with little choice but to absorb the cost. What frustrates people most is the uncertainty. Drivers often see prices change dramatically from one day to the next—and sometimes from one side of the road to the other. Consumers are left trying to guess when prices will rise or fall.

That is why the New South Wales Liberal Party and The Nationals have proposed a practical, sensible, commonsense reform that puts consumers first. The Opposition's Fuel Transparency Plan would require petrol retailers to publicly set and report a daily maximum fuel price and lock in that price for 24 hours. Motorists would be able to see the next day's price before arriving at the petrol bowser, providing certainty and transparency for consumers. That is what people in New South Wales want. Service stations will no longer be able to surprise motorists with sudden price spikes during the course of the day.

That reform builds upon the Coalition's most successful consumer initiative, FuelCheck. Members will remember that FuelCheck was introduced by the former Coalition Government in 2016. It gave motorists the ability to compare fuel prices in real time, and it empowered consumers with information that had not been available before. FuelCheck has helped countless motorists save money and shop around for the best deal, but fuel markets have changed. Consumers need stronger protection and greater certainty. The Opposition's proposal is based on successful reforms already operating elsewhere, and it would strengthen that transparency, encourage competition and help motorists make informed decisions about when and where to fill up. That is practical, commonsense reform. It is not complicated. It is about providing certainty and putting consumers back in control.

At the same time, we cannot ignore the broader issue of fuel security. The recent global oil crisis has exposed some serious issues and vulnerabilities in Australia's fuel supply chains, and it has highlighted how exposed Australian families remain to international events that are entirely beyond their control. Of course, the Albanese Labor Government likes to talk about energy security, but when global oil markets come under pressure Australian motorists are once again left insecure and vulnerable. Australia has watched international conflicts, supply disruptions and global uncertainty translate directly into higher prices at local service stations. The reality is that the Federal Labor Government has failed to deliver on the long-term fuel security that Australia deserves. Many members opposite are shaking their heads and agreeing with this today.

Mr Clayton Barr:

Shaking their heads and agreeing? It would be a nod, wouldn't it?

Mr MARK COURE:

The member for Cessnock will have his chance to support the motion in a minute. Instead of building resilience, strengthening supply chains and ensuring adequate reserves, Australia has been left exposed to global volatility. That is why the New South Wales Liberal Party and The Nationals have also proposed the Fuel Security and Resilience Strategy. We will step up where the Feds have failed. That strategy will strengthen New South Wales against fuel supply shocks, examine the need for additional fuel storage capability, explore opportunities for domestic fuel production and undertake a comprehensive audit of supply chain vulnerabilities. Those measures will provide general relief and help ease the pressure that so many households across New South Wales are experiencing. I commend the motion to the House.

Dr MARJORIE O'NEILL (Coogee) (14:38:03):

Surprise, surprise! The vacuous void that is the New South Wales Liberal Party has sent the member for Oatley, huffing and puffing, into the Legislative Assembly Chamber, filled with hot air and spewing information without a real understanding of how fuel markets actually work in this State. On this side of the House, we acknowledge that there are real cost-of-living pressures facing families, commuters and businesses—even those in the Oatley electorate. No doubt rising fuel prices place significant pressure on household budgets. We know that families are paying more every time they fill up their cars. Small businesses are seeing transport and operating costs rise, and commuters are feeling the impact each and every week as they try to balance mortgages, rents, groceries, utilities and fuel costs.

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