Queensland drivers are shopping around for the cheapest servo in town at almost twice the rate they did two years ago.
Energy Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said drivers were checking petrol prices on comparison apps and websites more than 600,000 times per month, compared to less than 350,000 in 2018.
The surge follows the Government's fuel price reporting trial, which has required retailers to provide up-to-date prices to the government, who have made them available free to app and web developers.
"The Government fuel price reporting trial has clearly been a hit with Queensland drivers," Dr Lynham said.
"Queensland drivers have nearly doubled how often they are checking fuel prices each month with the dozen price-comparison apps and websites now available.
"And the latest independent research by Griffith University shows that checking prices pays off."
A Griffith University interim report on the price reporting trial's first year of operating shows that motorists who shopped around could have saved over a year:
- $139 at the Gold Coast and Ipswich.
- $81 in Rockhampton
- $66 in Mount Isa
- $53.80 in Cairns
- and up to $179 in Brisbane.
Dr Lynham said the report also showed the two-year trial, which started in December 2018, had helped drive down average fuel prices in South East Queensland.
"In South East Queensland, Griffith University found the trial delivered a small decline in the average price of all grades of petrol, including regular unleaded petrol, E10 and premium unleaded petrol," he said.
"The reduction in average petrol prices means an extra $10 million in the pockets of Brisbane motorists, and an extra $14 million in the pockets of motorists across the south east.
"The main purpose of the trial is to make it easy to shop around and save by putting fuel prices into the hands of motivated motorists, but a decline in average prices is a double win for south-east Queenslanders."
Dr Lynham said fuel price apps were now reported as being more reliable and up-to-date.
"More than 1500 servos across Queensland are reporting their bowser prices, and we're passing on that data free to price comparison apps and websites," he said.
"Thanks to the Queensland Government's fuel price reporting trial, Queenslanders don't have to do laps around town to find the best bargain."
Griffith University will deliver a final report in 2021.
For a full list of apps and websites using the data and the report into trial, visit: https://www.dnrme.qld.gov.au/energy/initiatives/fuel-price-reporting-trial
