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Truckies ‘could save hundreds’ under new Fair Fuel Plan

Victorian transport operators could save themselves some money as the state is set to cap and lock fuel prices under the government’s Fair Fuel Plan.  

The plan will require fuel companies to publicly report their fuel price changes the day before they are in effect – and lock in those prices for 24 hours.  

The government will also make it compulsory for the more than 1500 fuel retailers across Victoria to provide their pricing data in real time.  

This data will then feed directly into a new “fuel finder” feature on the Service Victoria app.  

This will give truckies the opportunity to shop around for the best deal a day in advance, and there’ll be no surprises when they’re ready to fill up the next morning.  

As it stands, fuel price reporting in Victoria is voluntary and often patchy.

While commercial price reporting websites exist, the Victorian government claims that the Service Victoria fuel finder “will include every fuel provider, won’t be advertiser funded, and will never promote one outlet over the other”.  

The Fair Fuel Plan will be phased in over 2025. New regulations and legislation will be required, and work is currently underway to determine an appropriate enforcement structure and penalties for fuel retailers who break the law.  

A statement from the government said it will “consult with industry on implementation to get it right, and to ensure the scheme is fair and practical for smaller retailers”. 

Premier Jacinta Allen said: “You know how much fuel prices fluctuate – under our plan, you can find out tomorrow’s fuel price at every single servo on your route to work and make your decisions accordingly. 

“We know this won’t change everything for families who are doing it tough, but these savings can add up to hundreds of dollars a year.” 

Minister for Consumer Affairs Nick Staikos added:“We want to give families more power at the bowser. We’re also keeping multinational fuel companies transparent about the prices they set and the deals they promote.” 

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