25/01/2012

Cairns motorists paid more than 15 cents per litre (cpl) for unleaded petrol (ULP) in 2011 than 2010, according to RACQ’s Annual Fuel Price Report, released today.

The average price of ULP in Cairns in 2011 was 144.2 cpl, up 15.6 cents from the 2010 price of 128.6 cpl.

RACQ Executive General Manager External Relations Paul Turner said Cairns prices were also more expensive than Brisbane.

“Cairns motorists forked out almost two cents per litre more for ULP than motorists in Brisbane who paid 142.5cpl in 2011,” Mr Turner said.

“Fuel prices in Cairns were higher than some other key regional cities, including Townsville, which recorded 141.6 cpl for ULP in 2011. Mackay (142.2 cpl), Bundaberg (142.1 cpl), Toowoomba (136.3 cpl) and Ipswich (142.4 cpl) were also cheaper than Cairns.

“It’s disappointing to see Cairns motorists pay such high prices and we’d like to see more competition in the region to bring those prices down,” he said.

Mr Turner said the price of ULP rose sharply in the first half of 2011 as a result of uncertainty in the international oil markets caused by political unrest in North Africa and the Middle East and natural disasters.

Cairns motorists who use diesel also forked out more in 2011.

Caloundra, Ipswich, Dalby, Caboolture, Maryborough, Warwick, Mackay, Toowoomba and Hervey Bay were all cheaper than Cairns, which averaged151 cpl for diesel in 2011, while Townsville recorded the Queensland’s cheapest diesel at 145.3 cpl.

The full Annual Fuel Price Report 2011, daily fuel price information and places to purchase cheap fuel are available at www.racq.com.au/fuel.
 
The RACQ’s annual survey of fuel prices is based on average monthly price data provided by independent fuel price monitors MotorMouth and FUELtrac Pty Ltd.