Fair Trading Amendment (Fuelcheck) Bill 2026 - Second Reading Speech
As The Greens spokesperson for transport, I speak in support of the Fair Trading Amendment (FuelCheck) Bill 2026. This is a modest but important reform that will strengthen transparency in fuel pricing and availability at a time when households across New South Wales are under significant cost-of-living pressure.
It builds on a scheme that has already proven its value in a way that is practical, enforceable and clearly in the public interest. The FuelCheck scheme, established in 2016, was a positive government intervention that recognised the imbalance of information between fuel companies and consumers. By requiring real-time reporting of fuel price changes across more than 2,300 service stations, it has given drivers the ability to compare prices, avoid being gouged and make informed decisions. In effect, it has injected a degree of accountability into a market that too often operates without scrutiny. But as with any regulatory framework, its effectiveness depends on compliance and enforcement.
The bill does two key things. Firstly, it makes it an offence for operators to fail to notify not only fuel prices but also the unavailability of fuel. Secondly, it strengthens penalties for noncompliance, including higher penalties for repeat offenders. Both of these changes are sensible and overdue. I now turn to fuel availability. For many people in regional and rural New South Wales, access to fuel is not just a convenience; it is essential. In areas where distances are long and service stations are few, arriving at a service station only to find that fuel is unavailable is not a minor inconvenience—it can mean significant delays, wasted time and real safety concerns at times.
Requiring service stations to notify when fuel is unavailable brings the scheme into line with the realities people face on the ground. It ensures that FuelCheck's promise to provide reliable, real-time information extends beyond price to availability. This is practical improvement will make a tangible difference for regional communities in particular. The second element of the bill is the strengthening of penalties. The current penalties for failing to comply with FuelCheck requirements are clearly inadequate. A fine of $550 for an individual or $1,100 for a corporation is unlikely to act as a meaningful deterrent for large operators. Quite simply, it is not enough to ensure compliance in a market where profits can be substantial and the incentive to misreport or delay reporting remains. The bill increases those penalties significantly and introduces higher penalties for second and subsequent offences.
The bill recognises that compliance is not just about setting rules; it is about ensuring those rules are taken seriously. If the FuelCheck scheme is to function as intended there must be consequences for those who choose to ignore it. Transparency drives better outcomes for customers. When people can see prices clearly and in real time, it creates competitive pressure and reduces the capacity for opportunistic pricing. But transparency is only meaningful if the data being provided is accurate, timely and comprehensive, otherwise the system risks becoming performative rather than effective. The bill helps to close that gap. While The Greens support the legislation, we should also be clear-eyed about its limitations. FuelCheck, even when fully enforced, does not address the underlying drivers of high fuel prices. It does not regulate pricing itself, nor does it tackle the broader issues of market concentration or the influence of global oil markets. It does not reduce our structural dependence on fossil fuels. In that sense, the bill is necessary, but it is not sufficient.
At a time when families are struggling with rising costs, we need to be thinking more broadly about how we reduce reliance on expensive and volatile fossil fuels. That means investing in public transport that is frequent, reliable and affordable; supporting the uptake of electric vehicles and active transport options like cycling and walking; and accelerating the transition to a clean energy economy that is less exposed to global shocks because, ultimately, the best way to protect households from fuel price spikes is to reduce the need to purchase fuel in the first place. There is also a role for stronger oversight of the fuel market. Transparency is one tool, but it should sit alongside robust monitoring of pricing behaviour and a willingness to act where there is evidence of anti‑competitive conduct or consumer harm.
In conclusion, the bill strengthens an existing scheme that has delivered real benefits to drivers across New South Wales. By expanding reporting requirements to include fuel availability and increasing penalties for noncompliance, the bill enhances the integrity and usefulness of the FuelCheck system. For that reason, The Greens support the bill, but we also urge the Government not to see this as the end of the conversation. If we are serious about addressing cost-of-living pressures and building a more resilient transport system, we need to go further, tackling the root causes of fuel dependence and ensuring that the transition to cleaner, more affordable transport is accelerated. I commend the bill to the House.