THE launch of a mandatory fuel check website which will fine stations that do not update their prices has been labeled unfair to the little guy by one Wagga businessman.
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This week, the Department of Fair Trading officially launched fuelcheck.nsw.gov.au, a mobile-friendly website which allows motorists to check the prices of all petrol stations in the state.
Petrol stations who do not have their prices displayed correctly on the website face fines of $550 for false advertising.
A similar mobile phone week has also been launched by the NRMA this week called Fuel Watch, but only displays prices for two stations in Wagga.
Owner of Swift Service Centre Paul Seaman said there was a benefit in the website advertising his prices, however, he was concerned about facing fines for a slip of memory.
“The thing I don’t like about it is if I wake up one morning, I’m up for a fine if I forget to put it on the website or get it wrong,” he said.
“What happened to we were going to get rid of red tape, now we’ve got more red tape.”
Long time Wagga petrol campaigner Peter Simpfendorfer said he didn’t think it was the solution.
It wouldn’t reach all motorists because a lot of seniors didn’t use smartphones or the internet, he said.
“I don’t think it will have a big effect in Wagga, petrol prices in Wagga have been higher than average for many many years,” Mr Simpfendorfer said.
A Department of Fair Trading spokesperson said there would be an informal grace period for stations before fines were issued.