New South Wales authorities have issued more than 200 fines to petrol stations caught breaching fuel transparency rules, following an intensive statewide crackdown aimed at protecting motorists from misleading pricing.
Fair Trading inspectors have carried out more than 2,300 compliance checks since March, with over 70 per cent of the 210 fines issued in regional areas. The enforcement blitz is part of the government’s Bowser Busters initiative, launched in early April to encourage drivers to report suspicious or inaccurate fuel prices.
NSW Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said the government was determined to ensure motorists were not exploited. “We’ll continue to deploy more resources to ensure that every motorist, wherever they are, is not being ripped off,” he said.
The latest inspections focused on ensuring that prices displayed on the state’s FuelCheck app matched those advertised at the pump. Stations found with discrepancies were hit with $1,100 on‑the‑spot fines, and operators have been warned that more unannounced inspections and reinspections are on the way.
One tip‑off led inspectors to a petrol station in the Snowy Mountains, where diesel was advertised at $1.96 per litre on FuelCheck but displayed as $3.00 per litre on the roadside board a significant mismatch that triggered immediate enforcement action.
Chanthivong said the message to operators was clear: “Price mismatching and misleading practices is never acceptable, and NSW Fair Trading will catch you.”
The crackdown comes amid ongoing fuel price volatility and heightened public scrutiny, with authorities urging motorists to continue reporting suspicious pricing to help maintain transparency across the state.
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