For years, the price of fuel in the Clarence Valley and parts of the Northern Rivers has been some of the most expensive in the state, with prices varying by almost 30 cents a litre between the Lower Clarence and Grafton, but there is something everyone can do to bring this issue into the spotlight of the federal government.

The majority of fuel supplies to the region come from Brisbane and should attract a delivery charge that would see prices in the Clarence Valley a few cents per litre cp/l more expensive than Brisbane, but on January 19, there was a difference of 24 cp/l between Brisbane’s least expensive 91 octane unleaded, and Yamba’s cheapest.

After introducing a notice of motion to Parliament in 2018 calling for a Royal Commission into fuel prices, last week Channel 7 reported Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan was preparing another notice of motion into supermarket pricing and fuel pricing that he will introduce to parliament this week, but Mr Hogan told the CV Independent this would not be happening.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is calling MP’s back to parliament two weeks early to tackle mounting economic and cost of living issues, which will reportedly be discussed at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

The CV Independent spoke to a number of service stations in Yamba who advised prices were more expensive in the town as fuel freighters imposed additional delivery costs as they had to come into town off the freeway to deliver.

According to the NSW Government’s Fuelcheck app, on Friday January 19, the average price of E10 and 91 octane unleaded in NSW was $1.77.6 cp/l, with prices across the state ranging from $1.56.9 cp/l to $2.17.9 cp/l.

For premium 95 or 98 octane unleaded, Fuelcheck stated the average price across the state was $1.96.5 cp/l, while prices ranged from a low of $1.71.9 cp/l to a high of $2.59.9 cp/l on January 19. Diesel, which is increasingly popular due to the number of four-wheel drives and SUV’s on the road, varied by the most across the state with $1 difference between the lowest price of $1.69.9 cp/l and $2.69.9 cp/l, while the average price was $1.95.7 cp/l.

Comparing these prices to the Clarence Valley, the cheapest fuel in Yamba on January 19 was 91 octane unleaded at $1.91.9 cp/l, while at Maclean and Townsend the same fuel was $1.85.9 cp/l, at Tyndale it was $1.79.9 cp/l, Ulmarra was $1.77.9 cp/l and Grafton’s cheapest was $1.70.9 cp/l, a 21 cent difference between the cheapest upper and lower river prices, and a 28 cp/l difference between Yamba’s most expensive fuel.

To fill an average 75 litre tank on a car, this would amount to a $21 difference between prices in Yamba and Grafton.

The price of standard diesel didn’t vary as much from Grafton to the Lower Clarence on Fuelcheck, with a 13 cp/l difference between Grafton’s cheapest at $1.92.9 cp/l and Yamba’s of $2.05.9 cp/l.

To put pressure on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ACCC to act on regulating fuel prices, Mr Hogan advised locals to report information about our petrol prices to the ACCC.

“I have also asked the ACCC to investigate our local situation,” Mr Hogan said.

“I send through information regarding petrol prices in our area to the ACCC and ask the community to do the same.

“You can do this online at https://www.accc.gov.au/aboutus/contact-us/report-a-consumer– issue or telephone them on 1300 302 502.” 

This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 24 January 2024.