More than 200 petrol stations across New South Wales have been fined as part of a statewide compliance blitz targeting inaccurate fuel pricing.
NSW Fair Trading inspectors have visited more than 2,300 service stations since March, issuing 210 fines for breaches of fuel price transparency laws. The crackdown has focused on ensuring that prices displayed on the government’s FuelCheck app match those charged at the pump.
On-the-spot penalties of $1,100 have been issued for discrepancies, with higher penalties available through the courts for more serious or repeated breaches.
NSW Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said enforcement activity would continue across the state. “We’ll continue to deploy more resources to ensure that every motorist, wherever they are, is not being ripped off,” he said.
The compliance campaign has included both metropolitan and regional inspections, with around 70 per cent of fines issued in regional areas. Authorities have also undertaken re-inspections of sites flagged for potential non-compliance or repeated complaints.
The initiative forms part of the “Bowser Busters” program, which encourages motorists to report suspected price mismatches. Consumer reports have contributed to enforcement activity, with authorities using the information to target inspections.
Examples identified during the blitz include service stations displaying significantly lower prices on the FuelCheck app than those charged at the pump, as well as sites failing to display required pricing signage.
Data published during the crackdown indicates the scale of enforcement, with hundreds of penalty notices issued and tens of thousands of dollars in fines collected.
Motorists are being urged to continue reporting discrepancies as inspections expand into more remote parts of the state.
NSW Fair Trading has indicated that further unannounced inspections and compliance actions are expected as the program continues.
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