The recently announced Petrol Commissioner, Mr Joe Dimasi, has confirmed that he has written to all the major oil companies asking them to explain themselves over the high petrol prices at the pump.

He has also said the ACCC is working hard to break down the barriers that prevent greater competition at the wholesale level in the petrol market.

“Mr Dimasi does not need to write to the oil companies. He should already have all the evidence he needs at his finger-tips from previous investigations. What he really needs to be doing right now is taking the oil companies to task,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase said.

“Through the ACCC’s 2007 Petrol Price Inquiry and the efforts of the previous Petrol Commissioner, Mr Pat Walker, there has been enough letter-writing to date. Now is the time to stop the correspondence and to start the action.

“VACC requests that Mr Dimasi immediately look at the operation of the wholesale petrol market and the issue of Terminal Gate Prices. Independent service station owners are being denied a fair price there. This puts independents at an immediate pricing disadvantage and does not allow for a competitive market at the retail level.

“For too long the oil majors have enjoyed top-to-bottom control of the petrol industry and the ACCC admitted as such, referring to the ‘comfortable oligopoly’ in the 2007 Inquiry.

“Until someone comes out swinging, then the oil majors will continue to rule the roost and give the Petrol Commissioner the run-around.

“We encourage Mr Dimasi to abandon the flawed national Fuelwatch Scheme, it is simply a circus, and focus instead on the limited competition and control of the market by the oil majors at the wholesale level,” Mr Purchase said.