G’day all,
I am fed up with the high prices we have been paying for DIESEL, and therefore I have decided to do a bit of ‘stirring’. There are a number of reasons why we purchased a diesel vehicle, including greater towing torque, but the main reason was the far greater economy of the modern diesels compared to petrol engines. That benefit, however, is being eroded or outweighed by the higher price being charged for diesel.
Search engines on the internet allow us to research all sorts of information, but I believe we need to exercise some caution regarding what is published. One major oil company / fuel distributor has a site that supposedly provides the ‘plain facts’, but also tells us that petrol prices do not go up for long weekends. There will be some accurate information, but also, I expect, some ‘biased’ information.
I urge you to do your own research, but one site that MAY provide interesting reading is:
http://www.aip.com.au/pricing/facts/Facts_about_Diesel_Prices.htm
Most sources advise that diesel is a less refined fuel than petrol, and therefore we could expect it to be cheaper. Depending on the original source, ie the type or grade of crude oil, coals etc, there will be a different ratio of diesel recovered compared to petrol and other hydrocarbons, and the diesel can even be a by-product. However, other sources will say the supply and demand govern the final price – ie there is more demand for diesel in Asia and Europe, so our price is higher.
What is the truth? I’m only a ‘layman’, so how can I really know the truth? Last year the Federal Government arranged for the ACCC to review petrol pricing and questions of market manipulation etc. But the review did not include diesel. [And personally I don’t think the review of petrol was all that inspiring. The ACCC needs to get tough and have some real teeth before it is going to achieve much.]
Now that there has been a change in government, I understand there may be a new enquiry – I’m not sure who or what organisation will conduct it, though. If there is a new enquiry, it MUST include diesel. We need to demand the inclusion of diesel. It is interesting to visit the following site, where the RACQ is urging a review of diesel pricing. They seem to think Queenslanders are paying 5 cents a litre too much for diesel.
Well, I’ve got news for them, we all are paying too much for diesel!
Check out:
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22926456-3102,00.html
I do not want to go on too long in one post, but I do want to sow the seed to get some action. I urge all diesel vehicle owners to write to the following people:
The Hon Kevin Rudd
Prime Minister
Parliament House ACT 2600
and
The Hon Chris
Bowen
Assistant Treasurer
Parliament House ACT 2600
(Chris
Bowen is responsible for making sure the ACCC do their job.)
and contact your local Federal Member (contact details available at):
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/mi-state.asp
• Outline your concerns about diesel pricing
• Demand that any new fuel pricing review by the ACCC must also include diesel prices
• Require that diesel is included in the discount cycle with petrol perhaps by nominating a maximum price differential
• Include your own comments etc, but keep it clean and to the point.
The change in Federal Government may be our chance to get some action on this matter, but we need to get off our butts and prod them. While we are on it, why not request a reduction of the excise on fuel to cover the GST being charged on it – the tax on a tax problem!
Over to you guys…
Cheers,
glids