Motorists are paying an average of $2 a litre for petrol as global oil prices continue to surge in response to the Russia Ukraine war.
Australia joined our major allies in the United States and United Kingdom last week in banning imports of Russian oil, refined petroleum products, gas and coal.
The Foreign Affairs Minister, Marise Payne assured Australians that our nation does not import large amounts of Russian petrol, but this action will curtail Russia’s revenue and ability to finance the war against Ukraine.
There are calls to slash the fuel excise – a tax attached to the purchase of petrol – to provide immediate relief to Australians who are getting priced out of the fuel market and are forced to reduce their road travel.
NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury told a press conference on Monday that the fuel excise is earmarked to raise money to fix roads – a pressing concern for local governments after the NSW flood crisis wreaked havoc on roads.
“We desperately need to see relief at the browser, sustained meaningful relief for motorists, the excise is not the place to go,” Mr Khoury said of volatile oil prices.
“The reality with all prices today is that if even had cut the excise by half two weeks ago, those falls would have well and truly gotten eaten up by the increases we have now seen at the bowser”.
The benchmark price of diesel fell $46 a barrell overnight and the benchmark prices for unleaded fell by $24 a barrell, a record high.
Mr Khoury pointed out the need for Australia to begin its transition towards electric vehicles, as just 2 per cent of one million new vehicles sold this year were electric.
With no relief in sight, motorists are looking for money saving hacks to keep their tanks full and engines running. Here are some of the best ways to save on petrol:
Shopper docket discounts:
The two major Australian supermarkets offer fuel discounts simply for spending in store.
Coles offers 4c off per litre at Shell petrol station for every $30 spend in their supermarkets.
Woolworths offers 4c off per litre at Caltex Woolworths or EG Australia petrol station for every $30 spend in their supermarkets. If you spend $5 inside the petrol station, you can earn up to 8c off per litre.
Check your tyres
The lower the tyre pressure, the more fuel the car will use to accelerate. Keeping tyres pumped to the appropriate tyre pressure will help make fuel consumption more efficient, getting more kilometres for your fill up.
Driving smoothly can also contribute to better fuel efficiency. By avoiding excessive braking and acceleration and sticking to the speed limit, you can reduce your fuel consumption.
Check the free fuel apps
There are a number of fuel price apps that provide real-time data on the price of petrol in your area.
State governments have launched their own apps that cover the local petrol market – Fuel Check in New South Wales and Tasmania, MyFuelNT in the Northern Territory and FuelWatch in Western Australia.
Apps that cover nationwide petrol stations are MotorMouth, FuelMap, GasBuddy and PetrolSpy.
The service stations where you can find fuel for under $2/ litre
(based on the price of Unleaded 91 petrol using the Fuel Check app):
GREENACRE
$189.80/ litre
TEMCO Petroleum
190 Waterloo Road, GREENACRE, NSW, 2190
$193.90/litre
Metro Fuel Greenacre
331 Waterloo Road, GREENACRE, NSW, 2190
VILLAWOOD
$191.90/ litre
APEX Petroleum Villawood
896A Woodville Road, VILLAWOOD, NSW, 2163
GLENFIELD
$192.90
xjmtzywUncle Leo’s
Lot 1A Campbelltown Road, GLENFIELD, 2167
SILVERWATER
$195.90/litre
BP Silverwater South
51 Egerton St, SILVERWATER, NSW, 2128
WENTWORTHVILLE
$197.50/ litre
APW
449 Great Western Highway, WENTWORTHVILLE, NSW, 2145
AUBURN
$197.90/ litre
Speedway Auburn
238 Cumberland Road, AUBURN, NSW, 2144
GRANVILLE
$197.90/ litre
Speedway Granville
348 Blaxcell Street, GRANVILLE, NSW, 2142
$197.90/ litre
Powerfuel
101 Blaxcell St, GRANVILLE, NSW 2142
SOUTH GRANVILLE
$197.90/ litre
Speedway South Granville
171 Clyde St, SOUTH GRANVILLE, NSW, 2142
GREYSTANES
$197.90/ litre
Metro Fuel Greystanes
73 Ettalong Road, GREYSTANES, NSW 2145
MANLY
$197.90/ litre
Ultra Manly
209 Pittwater Road, MANLY, NSW, 2095
FRESHWATER
$197.90/ litre
Budget Freshwater
119 Harbord Road, FRESHWATER, NSW, 2096
AIRDS
$197.90/ litre
APEX Petroleum Airds
60 Riverside, Airds, NSW, 2096
