Grey nomads may not be travelling at the moment but many will take more than a passing interest in the price of fuel … and the massive regional variations in it.
While the price of oil has plummeted, it appears that country drivers are not enjoying the same bowser relief as their city counterparts.
Indeed, the ABC reports that some cities in regional Queensland are not seeing the full benefits, paying up to 80% more than drivers in Brisbane. Some petrol stations are charging less than 90 cents per litre for unleaded in the state capital today, but in Mount Isa it is closer to $1.45. In the central Queensland town of Biloela, the price is about $1.28, while in Longreach it is about $1.34.
Mackay, Townsville and Cairns have been charging between $1.01 and $1.20.
And the ABC has revealed that there are also large price differences between neighbouring towns.
Ingham motorists are paying between $1.09 and $1.27, while 50 kilometres away in Cardwell, residents pay less than $1.
While regional wholesale prices are generally higher each day, Renee Smith from the RACQ said customers in regional Queensland should not be paying much more than $1 per litre for unleaded petrol.
“In some parts of the state, prices are dirt cheap — we haven’t seen in about 15 years,” Ms Smith said. “However, we are seeing price gouging in other parts of the state and the prices are way too high.”
Ms Smith said it was vital healthy competition was maintained in the regional fuel market.
“We need motorists right now to make use of the real-time fuel data that is available online as part of a trial now,” she said. “And don’t give your business to those who are overcharging.”
Soren Nannestad, the owner of an independent petrol station in Townsville selling fuel at just shy of $1.03 per litre, told the ABC he did not understand why others were not dropping their prices.
“I’ve still been making my margins,” he said. “There’s been a massive increase in customers … a lot of customers have been really happy seeing that I’ve been dropping the price.”
Well in Boulia Qld Diesel is $159.9 lucky I’m not going anwwhere.
My Brother lives in Tabulam N.S.W. and he tells me the price for unleaded there is $1:56.
Have anybody noticed there is nothing ever said about the price for diesel. Most Grey Nomads I know have diesels to tow there vans with.
My tow rig(s) have always been petrol. Cheaper to buy, cheaper to run e.g. cheaper fuel, cheaper repairs, cheaper maintenance and not much difference in resale. Whilst fuel economy is better with a diesel, the actual savings in the fuel economy never added up in my books.
Yes, agree with rigger. This is my first diesel. Never again, my hand in my pocket all the time. After this back to a petrol.
Two servo`s in Toowoomba just under 99 cents for diesel. All the other servo`s at least 20 dearer.
$1.13 for diesel on north side of Brisbane at Eaton’s Hill
Why isn’t there ever anything done about the high price we pay for diesel in Australia. I was in the UK back in 2014 and petrol and diesel prices were the same, we are getting taken for a ride big time.