Long weekend’s inflated petrol prices fuel mounting anger

AUSTRALIA – Oil companies should “give motorists a break” over the long weekend by having a sale at the bowser instead of putting petrol prices up, according to Australia’s peak motoring body.

Australian Automobile Association executive director Lauchlan McIntosh said petrol prices had reached record highs ahead of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, despite world benchmark prices steadying in the past month.

In Canberra yesterday, the average price at Shell service stations was more than $1.45 a litre and there were reports some stations were charging as much as $1.50 a litre.

Spray painter Darren Margules from Richardson fills up a few times a week. He said he spends around $100 a week on petrol. “I think it stinks,” he said. “It costs a fortune by the end of the week.”

The Canberra Times