To the Honourable Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives assembled in Parliament.

The following citizens of Australia request that the House of Representatives notes with concern:

(1) the high cost of fuel, especially in country, regional and remote areas of Australia;

(2) that country residents are frequently required to pay from 7 cents to 14 cents per litre higher than prices in the city, despite regulation of maximum wholesale prices and transport costs;

(3) that fuel consumers in both city and country areas do not always have access to an effective open, transparent and competitive market that is fair to all consumers, free from discrimination; and

(4) that fair and reasonable fuel prices for all consumers are not available under existing practices.

Your Petitioners request the House to call on the government to act to address these problems by implementing the proposals of the RACV, VFF and VACC to:

(a) assist in the establishment of a voluntary oil industry code of conduct involving a system of access to fuel designed to prevent unfair discrimination between retailers of fuel in the country and the city;

(b) ensure wholesale fuel prices are published daily;

(c) ensure oil companies are able to set the price for fuel at different rates recognising the commercial realities of price differences based on volume and terms of payment;

(d) ensure all wholesale purchasers have access to fuel at the published rate applicable to the volume of fuel and the terms of payment involved in the transaction;

(e) ensure that wholesale fuel should not be offered at different prices at delivery to different customers based on the geographic area in which the customer operates; and

(f) open oil terminals to any potential customer with an appropriate vehicle and qualified driver; and

Your Petitioners request that the House further calls on the government to ensure that the new system is closely monitored by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and if evidence of discrimination, uncompetitive practices or profiteering is discovered, to take firm and prompt action against those involved in such unfair and unacceptable practices.