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small business Community facilities Agriculture | September 16, 2016

Kealy - Fuel price inquiry for regional Victoria

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy MP has confirmed that fuel prices in regional Victoria will be analysed after a Nationals-Liberal Coalition proposal for an inquiry passed Parliament this week.

“The Nationals-Liberal Coalition has listened to community concerns and hopes that a Parliamentary Inquiry can lift the lid on high country fuel prices,” Ms Kealy said.

“Price discrepancies between regional areas are largely unexplained and our local people who feel they are being ‘ripped off’ deserve an explanation,” she said.

The Parliamentary Inquiry into regional fuel prices will look at the impacts of pricing on country families, businesses and communities, and examine discrepancies between regional communities.

The inquiry will look into pricing of unleaded, diesel and LPG fuels and:

• Examine the methodology behind pricing, particularly the divide between metropolitan and regional communities
• Consider approaches and initiatives elsewhere in Australia, with a view to reducing fuel prices
• Look at fuel price comparison technology
• Investigate the impact of pricing on families, businesses and industry
• Assess the influence of regulations and legislation on fuel pricing

“Fuel is a necessary, but significant cost for families and businesses in regional Victoria,” Ms Kealy said.

“Many hours are spent each week travelling to work, operating farm machinery and taking the kids to school or weekend sports, putting further pressure on already high cost-of-living,” she said.

Fuel prices are just one of the cost-of-living pressures Victorians can share through the Nationals-Liberal Coalition’s CostWatch initiative by visiting www.costwatch.com.au.

“I was pleased to see this Nationals-Liberal proposal for an Inquiry into regional fuel prices receive widespread support and I look forward to the results,” Ms Kealy said.