Coalition calls for fairer fuel prices

State Liberal Member for Eildon Cindy McLeish MP is backing calls by the Victorian Coalition to establish a parliamentary inquiry into fuel prices in regional Victoria.

Ms McLeish said the inquiry would help answer questions about the methodology of pricing and the divide between metropolitan and rural communities.

‘It is no surprise that people living in the country must pay higher prices for petrol. But just how much more should we pay compared to people in the city?’ Ms McLeish said.

The inquiry would also consider the impact of fuel prices on families, businesses and industry and assess the influence of regulations and legislation.

The latest fuel report from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) shows although petrol prices are falling, these dips are not being passed onto consumers in shrinking retail margins.

‘We must clear up the lack of explanation on price discrepancies, especially between metropolitan and regional, and even regional and regional areas,’ Ms McLeish said.

Ms McLeish said fuel prices are just one of the cost-of-living pressures Victorians can share with the Coalition’s CostWatch website - www.costwatch.com.au

‘The CostWatch campaign is committed to driving down costs and making your dollar stretch further,’ Ms McLeish concluded.