Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 2129

❓ Mr. Hunter questions the government's response to high diesel prices, including potential price gouging and the use of regulatory powers. The government refers to another question, implying a related or overlapping inquiry.

AnsweredQoN 2129Legislative Assembly

Asked

14 April 2026

Member

Mr Lachlan Hunter

Portfolio

Energy and Decarbonisation

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the current fuel crisis and I ask:(a) With diesel prices exceeding $3.30 per litre in some regions, has the Government considered activating the Petroleum Products Pricing Act;(b) Will the Government consider appointing a price commissioner or implementing temporary price controls;(c) Has the Government identified any instances of price gouging during this fuel crisis:(i) If so, how many instances have been recorded/reported, and in which locations across Western Australia;(d) What monitoring is being undertaken to track abnormal or excessive fuel price increases, particularly in regional areas;(e) What threshold does the Government use to define price gouging in this context;(f) Have any fuel retailers or distributors been investigated or warned in relation to pricing behaviour:(i) if yes, please outline which ones;(g) What enforcement powers are available to the Government to act against price gouging, and have they been used;(h) Is the Government working with the ACCC or any other regulator to monitor and respond to price spikes; and(i) What safeguards are in place to ensure regional communities are not being disproportionately impacted by inflated prices?