Australia’s competition watchdog is investigating major fuel suppliers including Ampol, BP, Mobile and Viva energy for alleged anti-competitive conduct amid growing shortages sparked by the Iran war.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission boss Gina Cass-Gottlieb said on Thursday morning she was investigating reports about diesel availability to independent wholesalers and distributors in regional and rural Australia.
The news came as prime minister Anthony Albanese named former Australian Energy Regulator chief executive Anthea Harris as a new national fuel supply taskforce coordinator.
Albanese urged motorists not to buy more fuel than they needed and said the federal government wanted Australia to have more supply than necessary. He also stressed the country’s fuel supplies had not been disrupted nearly three weeks into the US and Israeli-led war and noted “we are cracking down on petrol companies engaging in price gouging”.
The ACCC took the unusual step of announcing an urgent investigation, citing widespread concern by consumers, business and farmers amid the growing Middle East conflict.
“It is not our usual practice to publicly announce investigations, but given the significance of the issue, the ACCC is confirming this enforcement investigation,” Cass-Gottlieb said in a statement.
“It is important that fuel market participants and the community know that we are closely watching market conduct in relation to all fuels and we will not hesitate to act swiftly to enforce Australia’s competition and consumer laws.”
She said the investigation was at a preliminary stage, and the ACCC was yet to form a view about these allegations.
Albanese said Harris would coordinate supply and distribution questions between the federal government and the states and territories, with immediate effect.
Speaking from Hobart immediately after the meeting with premiers, Albanese had a blunt message for motorists around the country.
“Please do not take more fuel than you need,” he said. “That is how you can help.
“It’s the Australian way to think of others, to think of their neighbours, their community, and also to think of the national interest. Only take what you need.”
More to come.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: theguardian.com
