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PETROLEUM INDUSTRY NEWS JOIN ACAPMA ACAPMA IS A NATIONAL INDUSTRY BODY REPRESENTING FUEL DISTRIBUTORS AND FUEL RETAILERS IN AUSTRALIA ACAPMA Membership includes access to a range of benefits: • ADVOCACY: on behalf of the industry • EMPLOYMENT & COMPLIANCE: advice, support health check audits, template documents & representation (including unfair dismissal) • TRAINING: and recognition schemes focused on standardised online safety and compliance training for employees in fuel retail, transport & contractor roles • EVENTS: by the industry, for the industry • NEWS & INFORMATION: updated daily online and delivered to your inbox every Friday EMPLOYMENT ADVOCACY EVENTS TRAINING INFORMATION ACAPMA 1300 160 270 communications@acapma.com.au “The price Australians pay at the petrol bowser can be divided into three components: the petrol that goes in your tank, taxes, and the costs and margins of wholesalers and retailers,” Mr Sims said. “Between April and December last year, a large part of what you paid at the bowser was tax.” Fuel security package Last year the Australian government announced measures to enhance Australia’s fuel security. This included a minimum payment of one cent for each litre of petrol, diesel and jet fuel produced by domestic refineries that agree to continue operating in Australia. In December the government announced it was bringing forward the payments to begin on 1 January 2021. The refinery payment is part of the Australian government’s broader fuel security package that is aimed at contributing to the security of fuel supply, keeping prices low for consumers, and supporting local industry and employment. “The ACCC understands the objectives of the scheme are to promote domestic fuel security and employment,” Mr Sims said. “However, we’re mindful that, depending on its design, parts of the scheme could adversely affect market competition and fuel prices. “The package proposes payments to domestic refiners but potentially additional costs on other parts of the industry, such as fuel importers. These payments and costs have the potential to alter competitive dynamics in the wholesale and retail fuel markets in Australia and impact consumers. These implications should be considered in the development of the scheme.” Regional Australia In the December quarter 2020, average petrol prices in regional Australia remained lower than average prices in the five largest cities. Average prices across 190 regional locations were 119.5cpl, which was 1.9cpl lower than average prices in the five largest cities (121.4cpl). “Petrol prices have traditionally been higher in regional areas with less competition, so a sustained period with average prices below those in the major capital cities is good news for people across regional Australia,” Mr Sims said. Fuel price transparency schemes The Queensland government announced in December 2020 that its real-time fuel price reporting scheme would be made permanent. “This is good news for Queensland motorists, giving them continued access to real-time prices to help them find petrol stations with the cheapest fuel,” Mr Sims said. “Motorists in NSW, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania can also access real-time petrol prices through transparency schemes, and a scheme in South Australia is scheduled to start next month.” Background On 16 December 2019, the Treasurer issued a direction to the ACCC to monitor the prices, costs and profits relating to the supply of petroleum products in the petroleum industry in Australia and produce a report every quarter. This is the fifth quarterly report under the new direction. ACAPMA 18603 HP.indd 1 MAR/APR, 2021 CONVENIENCE WORLD 63 27/7/20 3:37 p m