Rising fuel prices across South-East Queensland are adding to cost-of-living pressures for Noosa motorists, with global tensions and alleged price gouging raising fresh concerns.
Independent Noosa MP Sandy Bolton said excessive fuel prices and sharp fluctuations were hitting households already struggling with rising living costs.
“Excessive fuel prices and variations continue to place pressure on households during a cost-of-living crisis, with global conflicts exacerbating this,” Ms Bolton said.
She said there had been ongoing advocacy to the Queensland Government to address fuel pricing, but debate over proposed solutions continued.
“We have continued advocating to the Queensland Government and note that the Opposition’s proposed five-cent daily cap in a private members bill has received criticism in a recent poll that price gouging would just increase in response,” she said.
“Ultimately Queenslanders doing it tough need some meaningful relief in living essentials.”
The concerns come as motoring group RACQ referred major fuel retailers to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission after sudden petrol price hikes across South-East Queensland earlier this month.
RACQ Principal Economic and Affordability Specialist Dr Ian Jeffreys said the price increases appeared difficult to justify.
“South-East Queensland was already at the expensive end of the fuel price cycle, and prices should have been easing, not increasing further,” Dr Jeffreys said.
The motoring organisation said the spikes occurred shortly after conflict escalated in the Middle East, well before any genuine supply impacts would typically reach Australia, raising concerns some companies may have been capitalising on global uncertainty.
RACQ has called on the ACCC to investigate the increases and urged fuel companies to avoid passing on unjustified costs to motorists.
At the same time, the organisation is also advocating for safer regulation of emerging transport technologies, including electric scooters and e-bikes, which are becoming more common on Queensland roads and footpaths.
RACQ General Manager Advocacy Joshua Cooney said the organisation supported responsible use of e-mobility devices but stronger safety rules were needed.
“If adopted and implemented, these reforms would result in safer roads and footpaths for Queenslanders, while recognising the important role e-mobility devices play in our transport system,” Mr Cooney said.
The debate highlights the growing challenge facing Queensland transport policy – balancing affordability for motorists while managing the rapid emergence of new mobility options.
For many Sunshine Coast drivers, however, the immediate concern remains the rising price at the petrol pump.
Meanwhile, The Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) is calling on the Federal Government to provide clear leadership and transparency on Australia’s diesel supply situation, as prices surge and supply pressures begin to emerge across parts of regional Australia.
Transport operators have reported diesel price increases of between 30 and 60 cents per litre in recent days, with some regional fuel suppliers also introducing rationing measures.
ALRTA President Gerard Johnson said while isolated supply pressures were being reported, the priority must be maintaining confidence and stability across the freight network.
“Transport operators and regional communities need clear information and reassurance that Australia has sufficient fuel supplies and that appropriate measures are in place to maintain stability,” Mr Johnson said.
“Panic buying only risks making the situation worse. What we need right now is calm behaviour from consumers and strong leadership and transparency from government.”
The rapid increase in diesel prices is placing immediate pressure on rural freight operators who already operate on extremely tight margins.
“For many transport businesses the jump of 30 to 60 cents per litre represents a 10 to 20 per cent increase in operating costs almost overnight,” Mr Johnson said.
“With industry margins typically sitting between three and seven per cent, that level of cost escalation places enormous pressure on the viability of small and medium regional operators.”
