Australian Petrol Commissioner Pushes FuelWatch System
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Monday, 14 April 2008 |
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The Australian Federal Government is about to adopt a national
FuelWatch system that could save motorists as much as 5c a litre at the
petrol pump.
The
announcement could be made as early as next week, according to sources
within the NRMA and the Australian Automobile Association, to coincide
with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's return from overseas.
It follows intense debate within the Government about the merits of
the scheme, after Mr Rudd promised before the federal election to try
to bring down petrol and grocery prices.
The system has been pushed hard by the Government's newly appointed Petrol Commissioner, Pat Walker.
As consumer affairs and prices commissioner, Mr Walker oversaw a
similar scheme in Western Australia that he says saved motorists at
least 2c a litre. It is also understood a change of heart by Australian Competition
and Consumer Commission (ACCC) chairman Graeme Samuel was critical to
getting the green light for FuelWatch.
The ACCC had previously argued that although FuelWatch served to
flatten out petrol prices over the price cycle, it deprived motorists
of potentially greater savings if they bought at the trough - rather
than at the peak - of price movements.
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