HIGHLANDS petrol stations will soon have to fight for your dollar.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A new online tool called FuelCheck (available via the Fair Trading website) will provide greater transparency to motorists with real-time petrol prices.
The tool will allow motorists to find the cheapest petrol anywhere in NSW, get directions to any service station and search for fuel by type or brand.
It is compulsory for all operators of service stations in NSW to register with FuelCheck by July 14, 2016.
NRMA head of media Peter Khoury said compulsory price recording ensured greater transparency.
"The days of recording prices voluntarily will soon come to end," Mr Khoury said.
"That will ensure much more competition and much more transparency."
Mr Khoury said greater transparency in prices "will provide competition" among service stations.
"Service stations will have to tell everyone what their price is and they're going to have to compete for your dollar," he said.
"That is what we've been fighting for since 2005."
In addition to FuelCheck, MotorMouth updated its mobile app on May 20 to provide motorists with access to near real-time prices for the first time.
These changes were a result of the settlement between the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and data provider Informed Sources to resolve ACCC proceedings on petrol price information sharing.
ACCC chairman Rod Sims said the release of petrol price mobile apps facilitated informed purchasing decisions.
"The release of these mobile apps, and more apps to come, will allow consumers to make better informed purchasing decisions," Mr Sims said.
"It will reward retailers who discount prices, therefore promoting greater price competition in petrol markets."
Federal member for Hume Angus Taylor said he had been in personal contact with ACCC chairman Rod Sims.
"I have sent the material forwarded to me by Southern Highlands residents to the chairman of the ACCC and I have had a personal response back from him," Mr Taylor said.
Mr Taylor called for photographic proof of petrol prices on February 5, 2016.
"I've made a very strong representation [that] the Southern Highlands should be one of the next regional petrol review locations - I know the chairman and I've made it clear this is a priority."
Mr Taylor stressed the importance of competition in the area, particularly with new independent service stations.
"I firmly believe we don't have enough petrol stations in the Highlands to drive the competition that you see in metropolitan areas or regional centres like Goulburn," he said.
"I'm pleased to see that there are new independents coming in but we have to make sure they've got good locations."
For more information on FuelCheck, visit www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/sites/ftw/About_us/Online_services/FuelCheck.page
