30/1/03
The State Government is looking to extend its petrol watchdog service to include 36 more towns and five new shires.
Consumer and Employment Protection Minister John Kobelke said there had been many public and local government requests to review the FuelWatch boundaries since it was introduced in January 2001.
"FuelWatch is an Australian first and has been strongly supported by Western Australian consumers," Mr Kobelke said.
"It already covers 24 country towns and local government districts but I think it's time other towns had the opportunity to participate.
"However, we won't be expanding the service if there is strong consumer opposition to the idea. There will be extensive consultation with consumers, industry and interested parties over the next four weeks to decide how we will proceed in each area."
If plans to extend FuelWatch are supported, it will provide petrol price boards outside more service stations, allowing motorists to see what prices are being charged before entering to refuel.
The use of price boards and notification to the FuelWatch website will be beneficial to country motorists in shopping around for the best prices and to metropolitan travellers in planning their trip to the country.
Mr Kobelke said extending the system would also benefit retailers who could use FuelWatch services to promote their prices to local buyers and passers-by.
FuelWatch requires metropolitan and some country retailers to notify their following days' prices by 2pm each day, maintain prices for a fixed 24-hour period from 6am and for fuel prices to be displayed on price boards at the site.
"FuelWatch has been successful in giving motorists early notification of fuel prices," Mr Kobelke said.
"This means consumers can decide whether it will be cheaper to buy today or delay until tomorrow.
"The system also acts as a watchdog, giving motorists an early warning when prices are about to jump. Again this allows them to time their purchases and reward retail outlets that keep prices low."
Consumers can get the latest on WA fuel prices at http://www.fuelwatch.wa.gov.au or by calling a 24-hour service on 1300 55 08 08.
Motorists can also have fuel prices sent to them directly through the free FuelWatch email subscriber service by visiting the FuelWatch website.
Comments on the plan will be open until February 26.
Minister's office: 9222 9211
PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE FUELWATCH BOUNDARIES
Criteria for Extending the FuelWatch Boundary
The following criteria were used in selecting the additional country shires and town sites (that are listed below) for possible inclusion in the FuelWatch boundary.
1. Size of the resident population.
2. Number of fuel retail outlets (there must be at least two outlets for competition to occur).
3. Population during peak holiday periods.
4. Location (e.g. retail site/town on a major country highway).
No one factor by itself determined inclusion in the following list. For example, some town sites have relatively small permanent populations but several retail sites (often because of the location on a major highway) and/or significant population increases during holiday seasons.
Locations Being Considered for Inclusion in the New FuelWatch Boundary
The town sites and shires listed below are being considered for inclusion in the FuelWatch boundary.
Local government districts (shires)
Town sites Areas Currently in the FuelWatch BoundaryLocal government districts (shires) Town sites
