Eighteen months after promising action on continually rising petrol prices, Peter Gutwein needs to explain why Tasmanian motorists have been slugged with a 25 per cent increase over the past year.
Shadow Consumer Affairs Minister Jen Butler said the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed spiralling fuel costs have been the largest contributor to higher cost of living increases for Tasmanian families.
“That increase is outrageous and all Tasmanians are feeling the pain,” Ms Butler said.
“What’s just as outrageous are the promises of the Premier and his Consumer Affairs Minister Elise Archer.
“Ms Archer told Tasmanians just six weeks ago that fuel prices were heading in the right direction and the best she could offer was a claim that ‘Tasmania is closing the gap on the rest of the country’.”
Tasmanian fuel prices have not been subjected to sharp price spikes and high prices when compared to interstate prices over the 2020-21 reporting period.
… this is good news, demonstrating the importance of the Government’s ‘Fuel Check TAS’ app and website that is delivering a more transparent and competitive retail fuel industry, by helping Tasmanian motorists find the cheapest fuel in their area, in real time.
… we expect the Scheme will continue to put downward pressure on retail fuel prices and discourage significant price increases at the bowser.
Elise Archer, 18 September 2021
“Additionally, 18 months ago Mr Gutwein promised an investigation into a fuel price cap that has not been delivered,” Ms Butler said.
“It’s become abundantly and increasingly clear that both the Premier and Ms Archer are utterly, hopelessly out of touch on this issue.”
Jen Butler MP
Shadow Consumer Affairs Minister
