RSS Feed
May 5th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda New laws are needed to force petrol companies to show drivers the real cost of fuel, the Australian Automobile Association says.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has launched an investigation into price-sharing arrangements between petrol companies.
The AAA says the investigation will do little to improve information for motorists.
‘History shows that motorists are right to be sceptical about the benefit of these investigations,’ AAA executive director Andrew McKellar said on Friday.
‘I’d like to see real action come from this, not just more talk.’
Motorists deserved price transparency and access to information to help them make informed decisions.
The commission should examine ways to improve fuel price boards, standardise information and reduce confusion, Mr McKellar said.
There was also a need for national regulation to force retailers to show the real cost of fuel, not just the discounted price when using a coupon or other special conditions.
Shadow treasurer Joe Hockey said the ACCC investigation would be more effective than a parliamentary inquiry.
‘I’d like to think given the ACCC’s initiated this one instead of politicians, that in fact, they will get to the bottom of it,’ he told the Seven Network.
‘People are frustrated with the enormous volatility in prices.’
Cabinet minister Tony Burke said numerous inquiries had failed to determine whether price collusion was occurring.
‘I don’t think anyone has nailed the right way,’ he said.
‘To make sure that there’s not price gouging, I think, is something that lies at the heart of what everybody expects.’
Existing laws prohibit contracts, arrangements or understandings that erode competition.
The opposition says the ACCC investigation could bring false hope because the government has resisted attempts to give the body increased powers.
‘There have been numerous investigations into petrol pricing, yet the problems remain the same,’ opposition consumer affairs spokesman Bruce Billson said in a statement on Friday.
There was little point investigating suspect behaviour if you did not have the power to do anything about it.
‘You don’t send a mechanic to fix a car unless they have the tools to do it,’ Mr Billson said.
The coalition wants to beef up the powers of the ACCC.
Posted in 
Tags: 
