The Minns Labor Government is urging motorists to continue using FuelCheck while travelling this long weekend as NSW Fair Trading pushes its statewide fuel transparency compliance inspections into the most remote areas of the state.
Service stations in Cobar and Lake Cargelligo have been the most regional sites targeted in the latest compliance inspections, with around 70 retailers left in neighbouring regions on NSW Fair Trading's radar for inspection.
NSW Fair Trading inspectors have now visited more than 2,300 petrol stations and issued over 210 fines from Manly to Moree, covering 94 per cent of the state.
More than 750 petrol stations have also been re-inspected after displaying 'red flag' behaviours, such as receiving fines or multiple consumer complaints.
Around 70% of all fines have been issued in regional NSW, with the Southern Tablelands & South Coast, Central West and Riverina seeing the highest number of price mismatches.
In the Snowy Mountains, a service station flagged through the Bowser Busters program was found displaying diesel at $3.00 per litre on its fuel price signage, while advertising $1.96 per litre in the FuelCheck app, a discrepancy of $1.04 per litre.
In Walgett Shire, an inspection at a 24-hour unmanned service station identified the site was not displaying required fuel price signage, limiting consumers' ability to make informed purchasing decisions.
Further inspections in the Upper Murray region identified two service stations selling diesel without any fuel price signage. One of these sites was also found to have a price discrepancy of 25 cents per litre for diesel between the price of $3.24 advertised on FuelCheck and required pricing of $2.99.
Those who fail to meet their obligations face on-the-spot fines of $1,100, with court penalties of up to $110,000. Stations that have already been fined have been warned to be extra vigilant as NSW Fair Trading has the ability to pursue a higher penalty before the Courts for repeated breaches.
As thousands hit regional highways for the long weekend, drivers are encouraged to take advantage of FuelCheck's Bowser Busters feature to directly report fuel price mismatching and help target compliance activity in communities where it is needed most.
Bowser Busters is working - with everyday motorists now acting as NSW Fair Trading's eyes and ears on the ground, almost 100 desktop compliance fines have been issued for price mismatches reported by the public.
To explore FuelCheck and become a Bowser Buster, please visit: https://www.fuelcheck.nsw.gov.au/app
Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said:
"These inspection and compliance numbers show that as cost-of-living pressures ramp up, the Minns Labor Government will not back down.
"As our robust re-inspection regime continues, we're calling on every motorist in the state to report regional and metropolitan service stations that are taking them for a ride.
"This is all part of the Government's commitment to improve fuel transparency in NSW by injecting $2.2 million to upgrade and maintain FuelCheck, conducting record numbers of compliance inspections and encouraging consumers to report unfair fuel prices.
"My message to service stations remains clear: do the wrong thing and you will be caught."
NSW Fair Trading Executive Director of Consumer Affairs Andrew Floro said:
"Our NSW Fair Trading inspectors have worked tirelessly to cover off NSW petrol stations and ensure they are doing the right thing at the bowser.
"We are continuing to call motorists to report on price discrepancies as it leads to real enforcement outcomes. Especially in rural areas that are harder to access.
"Ahead of the long weekend, NSW Fair Trading will continue targeted inspections and compliance action, ensuring motorists travelling to regional and rural NSW can rely on FuelCheck when planning their journeys."
