The Government welcomes the first release of data by the independent price monitoring

system of petrol prices for 100 country towns and capital cities across the nation. The

Government appreciates the efforts of the Australian Institute of Petroleum, BP, Caltex,

Mobil and Shell as well as the Australian Automobile Association and its constituent

members, the NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RACWA, RAA, RACT and AANT in putting together this price

data.

The petrol price data proves the success of the first stage of the Government reform

package for the petroleum industry. Overall, petrol prices have fallen in cities as well

as in country towns since the implementation of the Government’s reform package on 1

August this year.

The Government proposes to implement the remaining stages of its policy in order to

lock in the benefits of lower petrol prices for rural and regional consumers.

The Government’s reform package is based on the recommendations of the 1994

Industry Commission report on petroleum products and the 1996 inquiry report by the

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission into the Petroleum Products Declaration.

(Both these inquiries were commissioned by the former Labor Government.)

CANBERRA

15 October 1998

For further information contact Alistair Davey, Treasurer’s Office on (02)

6277-7340