IF it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it's definitely a duck.
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The continued price "irregularities" motorists are forced to contend with at the petrol pump is a constant source of frustration for the public and humiliation for the authorities.
Time and time again our governments have promised they would do something about the "unusual" pricing practices of fuel companies, yet every time they try to do something it ends up back in the too hard basket.
The current situation highlights just how inadequate authorities are when it comes to dealing with the oil companies.
Despite the fact world oil prices have slumped to record low levels, motorists continue to be slugged heavily.
While there is nothing wrong with companies making healthy profits, there is also nothing wrong with the public asking why they are propping them up to such a significant degree.
Not unlike banks when there is a shift in interest rates, the oil companies are quick to move on pricing when the cost of the product increases.
And just as the banks are slow to reduce rates when they go down, oil companies are also unwilling to pass on any of the additional profit margin to motorists when the price of oil drops.
Given the vast size of our nation and the lack of appropriate public transport in regional and rural areas, the public is effectively being held to ransom by these greedy companies.
In places such as Wagga, we have few other choices than to drive and in doing so, wear the cost of the high prices.
People living in the cities, however, have the option of relatively good public transport and because of that, also receive the benefit of lower fuel prices.
The federal government must give the ACCC more teeth when it comes to petrol pricing don't tell us who has the cheapest fuel, start asking some questions about the huge disparity in pricing and why regional and rural Australians are so heavily penalised.
The price difference goes well beyond the cost of transporting the fuel and it can only be assumed that the higher price we pay is because of the lack of competition both from other retailers and other transportation options.