The New South Wales government has warned fuel retailers that it will not hesitate to impose tough penalties on operators who exploit motorists during the ongoing fuel crisis. Offences can attract on‑the‑spot fines of $1,100, while individuals face penalties of up to $22,000 and corporations up to $110,000.
To strengthen transparency and help drivers find fairer prices, the government will inject $2.2 million into improving the Fuel Check website and app. The upgrade aims to enhance data accuracy and reliability at a time when usage has surged dramatically from 10,000 daily users to 500,000 by late March, as motorists scrambled to locate the cheapest fuel.
“The government won’t tolerate those who are trying to take advantage of their fellow Australians,” said NSW Minister Anoulack Chanthivong. “This is a difficult time. The conflict overseas is driving up petrol prices, affecting the entire economy and putting real pressure on the cost of living.”
Despite some stabilisation, fuel shortages remain widespread. As of Sunday:
42 service stations were completely out of fuel
255 stations had run out of at least one fuel type
145 stations were out of diesel and/or premium diesel
NSW has 2,400 service stations, all legally required to register and report real‑time prices through Fuel Check.
The government says the strengthened system and strict enforcement will help protect consumers as global tensions continue to push fuel markets into uncertainty.
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