Fuel prices

Cruiser

Unfortunately oil companies dont need to drop the price as the consumers are still willing to pay at the higher prices. If the demand for fuel fell as the price rose as it does with most other goods then fuel companies would drop prices as soon as the cost of production fell. You may not like it but it is us who allow this to happen by ignoring the basics of supply and demand economic theory! The only solution is that when the prices rise above what you think is fair, you should park the beast in the shed and get the treddly out. until the price falls!!

sorry this isnt good news!!!

there is not much wrong with the fuel prices in Brisbane - so I'm not complaining. It is already near the cheapest in the first world. I usually fill up under 90c/L. Let us weep for our brothers in Europe who are paying 3x.

Hello all, Smocky here.

I have an idea (although I won't claim it as mine, I read it somewhere).

The idea is this: In order to as you rightly point out re-introduce competitive pricing, you as a consumer should NEVER EVER fill up at the biggest servos. For example, say we all boycotted SHELL and BP (not that I'm picking on them, they may be listening). As their sales dropped, they would have to lower prices in order to regain their market share which they NEED because they are so big.

The only way this works of course is in volume, but I think it's a winner. You simply force the largest chain to lower there prices in order to get business and everyone else will have to follow suit.

And a slight correction on another post, it isn't that consumers are necessarily willing, just that most don't have a choice. You can choice WHERE you buy your petrol from of course.

Just a thought,

Smocky.

If you do a search for info on oil reserves and when it's to run out you'll be very surprised. Was also a report on late line the other night which confirmed a number of reports I've read via investment managers. The facts and a some figures are out there but as for global warming etc most countries and for that matter people don't want to know. As for global warming some researchers are now saying don't worry about globab warming as fossil fuels will run out well before that kills the planet. We all know oil is a finite resourse but most believe they won't see the time it runs out. Well, the wake up call has been sounded by quite a few researchers and even OPEC have stated that they've grossly over estimated the reserves left by as much as 20-30 %. If what they say is correct we may have already reached peak production and from here in it's all down hill. Due to demand, the shape of oil wells and the fact that no major new oil discovery has been made since the 60's oil could run out within your childerns life time. What does that mean for those of us that are middle age? Once it's confirmed we have reached the turning point it's predicted petro-chemical products will increase significantly this means pretty much everything in our life. Petro chemicals are used in food, fertlisers, plastics, cloths, medicines, chemicals, bases of many items, fuel, oils, etc, etc, etc. Next will be energy wars which we may see more of lead by bigger countries. Oil for energy is only one small portion of what is used, oil is used in every aspect of our life.

For those that think that there is still bulk oil to be found, forget it there are small fields that maybe found but nothing on the scale already found. If it could have been found it would have been. Shale oil, gas, solar, tidal, nucular etc, again forget it, they will help but look at how many billions of barrels of oil you will need to compenstate for stationary power, transport and all the products crude is used for. From what I've read we (middle age) will see major changes starting soon with prices and if we are lucky to make old age we won't like what we see. I could go on with more info but if your interested just check it out yourself. Could they be wrong?? Probably not, the timing could be wrong but even if they are 100% out our generation will still see significant changes and I'd hate to be around in another 50 or so years.

I agree with all of the above. We are being shafted by the oil companies then screwed by our government.
Petrol vs diesel pricing is about the same as buying a loaf of bread for $2 and paying $2.50 for a bag of flour. It just doesn't make sense, unless you are doing the shafting and screwing.

True, guess I'm saying get used to high prices!! We don't have the fluctations here that you must have, our prices are pretty stable. Have never seen the case were crude goes up one day the bowser prices move up the follow day.

G'day Cruiser
I reckon it's got a lot to do with greed and market manipulation. I completely agree - it's bloody unjust that prices rise much faster than they fall relative to crude oil price movements. The oil companies do it because they can. And there is nothing we can do about it. The post about boycotting an oil major will never work simply because no-one will be able to get every motorist to support it. So in answer to your question "how much longer are we going to put up with these crazy fuel prices"? - for as long as they sell fuel is probably the correct answer!

The only way to ensure that the price falls as quickly as it increases is through market pressure, fuel is a high volume low margin item and sellers need volume to make profit. Once the volume falls so does there profit.

Here in the west our government legislated so that petrol stations can not change their price during each day. They have to nominate their next days price by 3pm each day. This price is then listed on a website for the public to view. I receive an email each day with a list of the cheapest sellers for the next day so i can ensure that i buy only from the cheapest.

I have no idea if this system actually leads to cheaper prices but the price seems to drop quicker when crude prices fall.

i agree with most things said here, love the idea of a fee free day for public transport. sick of being used as a cash cow, the fed govt is making about 100million a week in extra gst because of the current prices so they dont care, diesel vs petrol yes excellent point, but how about gas, it is only a waste byproduct of refining, and they mix butane etc. in with it because they cant get rid of it any other way, 50cpl thanks very much. Europe - higher taxes on fuel but they get a lot better social infrastructure because of it, and hey in most of europe if you drive for an hour it's a long trip. next country sometimes!!
not buying from the big guys - never works - only a couple of refineries in aus, who do you think supplies all the 'little guys' . big boys still get their money one way or another.

Best thing to do is work the fluctuations during the week to your advantage if you can.
Most disturbing to me is the 'duopoly' being set up in aus with coles myer and woolworths, mobil are pulling out of aus entirely, bp will go along with the big 2 prices just for the hell of it, and watch our grocerie / fuel creep slowly up. Have a look at coles/wollies latest battle to gain full control of all alchohol dist in aus, they are unstoppable.

But yeah it gives me thebleepes with the instant rise, slow drop process.

'thud' just fell off soapbox, time for a nap......

Its a bank mortgage rate drop system!

Gidday All,
Trip to NZ recently Unleaded $1.40 Diesel 83 cents.
What,s the go !!!!!!!!
Seeya Locallaw

Austravel, there is a huge difference between the FACTS & the TRUTH>
The facts are usually disseminated by the govt, press & media but the truth
is elsewhere & hopefully it shall set U free.Who do U believe Austravel??
Certainly supply is being interrupted constantly in Iraq & there have been an
enormous number of pipeline & refinery fires in the US & elsewhere.
They are documented on stevequayle.com.
It is said (truth?) that there is a huge oil field off the Falklands waiting to be developed & also in eastern Israel plus the Russians have used technology to
prove that oil fields regenerate much faster than previously thought & they are doing it now.
Anyway bring on the suppressed technology that our handlers have deprived us of for yonks.

A lot of talk and ideas but maily hot air

If you want to travel somewhere you have to put the fuel in the tank

How much extra are you paying for a full tank of fuel $5? maybe $6? How far does that go? How much extra is it per week?

Not worth worrying about.

I found a servo in Adelaide today selling unleaded at 98.5c/l Thought it was a bargain. How quickly we get used to things!

And yet I am sure we source ALL our oil from local reserves (bass straight & north west shelf), I remember reading that auto gas is 100% local.

So why then should world indicators always affect a local supply?

I just checked the CPI - I can remember in 1980 fuel being 33cpl I remember it being cheap at that price then.

If you apply the CPI to that price you get 98cpl today.

Doesn't make it hurt less but does put it in perspective.

And if you really think the oil companies are ripping us off then buy some shares and get some of the profits for yourself.

Gaz