Following resident concerns regarding the ongoing excessive variations in fuel prices and other essentials that are contributing to the cost-of-living hardships, Sandy asked the Queensland Premier a Question on Notice (QON) in Parliament on what can be actioned, either directly or through working with the Commonwealth Government, to address these challenges. The QON is below including the Premier’s full response:

Sandy’s QON

With reference to the government acting on supermarket pricing— Will the Premier advise what will be done, either directly or through working with the Commonwealth Government, to address the ongoing excessive variations in fuel prices and other essentials that are contributing to the cost-of-living hardships being experienced by Queenslanders?

The Premier’s response

In 2023-24, the Queensland Government is providing a record $8.224 billion in concessions to Queensland families and businesses, an increase of more than 21 per cent from 2022-23.

This includes providing a Cost of Living Rebate on all electricity bills of at least $550 in 2023-24; providing 15 hours of free kindergarten from January 2024 for all 4-year-old Queensland children. The Queensland Government is also freezing the registration fee and traffic improvement fee components of Motor Vehicle Registration costs in 2024-25; and freezing public transport fares in 2024.

Fuel prices fluctuate due to a range of global factors as well as the pricing policies of fuel retailers. Since December 2018, fuel retailers in Queensland have been required to report fuel prices as part of the Queensland fuel price reporting scheme to help motorists find the cheapest fuel prices. Fuel retailers are required to report fuel price information within 30 minutes of a price change at the bowser. Fuel price data is then made available to fuel price app developers and publishers for use by consumers and motorists.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is responsible for monitoring fuel prices and the petrol industry in Australia to prevent anti-competitive conduct. This includes monitoring retail fuel prices in Australian capital cities and more than 190 regional locations and providing buying tips for Australia’s five largest cities based on petrol price cycles.

As noted by the Member for Noosa, on 7 March 2024, I moved in the Parliament to establish Queensland’s first Supermarket Pricing Select Committee. The committee was established following meetings with the heads of Australia’s big four supermarkets. Queensland’s inquiry will examine the causes and effects of increased supermarket prices and look at identifying opportunities to increase transparency in the supermarket sector for consumers and producers.

The Queensland Government has also welcomed reviews by the Federal Government including the Independent Review of the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct 2023-24, the Senate Select Committee on Supermarket Prices, and the ACCC’s Supermarkets Inquiry 2024-25.

The Queensland Government will continue to encourage the Federal Government to use the policy levers at its disposal to ensure the supermarket sector is competitive, transparent and fair for consumers and producers.

The above QON can be seen in the official Parliamentary Record (Hansard) at https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2024/245-2024.pdf

Regarding the supermarket inquiry referenced in Sandy’s QON, a select committee has been established to investigate the causes and effects of increased supermarket prices and identify opportunities to increase transparency in the supermarket sector for consumers and producers. Further information is available at www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-Committees/Committees/Committee-Details?cid=252&id=4393.

We would appreciate any feedback on either the Premier’s response on fuel prices or the supermarket enquiry via noosa@parlaiment.qld.gov.au. Sandy will continue to advocate for any measures that ease these pressures on residents.

Further information

To contact the Premier, please email premier@ministerial.qld.gov.au. Please cc’ us via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au and forward us any response you receive.

For any enquiries relating to the Federal Government, please contact your local Federal (Commonwealth) MP’s office:

For our previous Noosa 360 updates on fuel prices, please visit www.sandybolton.com/?s=Fuel