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Qld govt should fight petrol prices: RACQ

The Queensland government needs to step in to address high fuel prices, motoring groups say.

A motorist refuels her car at a service station
The RACQ is calling on the Queensland government to step in as petrol prices soar in the state. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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The Nation's Consumer watchdog has rejected calls from the Queensland government to take the lead in addressing the state's high fuel prices

Premier Annastacia Palazczuk on Monday said her government had no plans on rolling out a real-time fuel pricing app or website to help motorists shop around and keep retailers accountable.

"This is a national issue and the ACCC really does need to take charge here," she told reporters in Logan.

However, in a statement on Monday the ACCC insisted it does not have a role in regulating fuel prices.

"The ACCC monitors prices costs and profits in the petroleum industry in Australia," an ACCC spokesman said.

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"A number of jurisdictions across Australia - NSW, Western Australia and the Northern Territory - have introduced their own fuel price transparency schemes. There is no impediment to the Queensland government introducing its own scheme."

The NSW government recently made it compulsory for service stations to immediately advise the public when prices go up or down.

Drivers in Brisbane were paying up to 30 cents a litre more on Monday than they were a week ago, with prices jumping to around $1.50 a litre.

Price-monitoring agency Fueltrac has flagged the appointment of a new fuel commissioner and the introduction of capped profit margins as another solution to the high prices.

RACQ spokeswoman Renee Smith said the motoring club was not convinced this was the best solution.

"We're not sold on that idea because if we cap prices then they may not move around as much and they might just stay high all the time," she said.

Ms Smith said big companies like BP and Coles were often unnecessarily driving prices up and called on consumers to instead support smaller retailers.

But Ms Palaszczuk refused to support calls for a boycott.

"I think that's a matter for independent consumers to make that decision," she said.


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