
Overview of 2020-21 Fuel Prices in Australia
It’s no surprise that COVID-19 has taken its toll on Australian petrol prices. We’ve seen a relatively significant drop and subsequent rise in petrol prices around the state in the 2020-21 financial year.
Petrol Snapshot 2020-21
When we look at sales volumes, however, the story isn’t as clear. The ACCC’s June 2021 Quarter Report shows us that Aussies have been filling up significantly less than pre-pandemic. This was expected, thanks to the extended lockdowns that capital cities like Sydney and Melbourne have been experiencing. Even in the states in which local travel is permitted, Aussies haven’t been running to the pump as often as in previous years.
Components of Retail Petrol Prices in the Quarter
- Other costs and margins (wholesale and retail)
- Taxes (excise and GST)
- International cost of refined petrol (Mogas 95)
- Other costs and margins (wholesale and retail)
- Taxes (excise and GST)
- International cost of refined petrol (Mogas 95)
Retail Prices by State: March to June 2021
Retail Prices by State: March to June 2021
Quarterly average petrol prices in each of the 5 largest cities: March quarter 2021 and June quarter 2021 – cpl
Quarter
|
Sydney
|
Melbourne
|
Brisbane
|
Adelaide
|
Perth
|
5 largest cities
|
March 2021
|
132.8
|
136.2
|
135.6
|
132.1
|
130.3
|
133.4
|
June 2021
|
143.6
|
144.5
|
146.8
|
135.2
|
139.9
|
142.0
|
Change
|
10.8
|
8.3
|
11.2
|
3.1
|
9.6
|
8.6
|
One surprising outcome of the last financial year has been Darwin’s 180-shift on fuel prices. The city took the cake for the cheapest average petrol price out of all the capitals – after only half a decade ago offering prices 19.0 cpl higher.
Regional vs. Metropolitan Fuel Prices
Other reasons for this price disparity include:



Regional vs. Metropolitan Fuel Prices
Other reasons for this price disparity include:



Monthly average retail petrol prices (cpl) from July 2019 to June 2020, for regional locations vs 5 largest cities
Monthly average retail petrol prices (cpl) from July 2019 to June 2020, for regional locations vs 5 largest cities

Source: ACCC calculations based on FUELtrac data
How Much Do Australians Spend on Petrol?
How Much Do Australians Spend on Petrol?
Developments in the Petroleum Industry
Schemes for petrol price transparency
Developments in the Petroleum Industry
Schemes for petrol price transparency





Independent Fuel Apps
The mandatory price reporting seen across the country has opened up a whole new market for app developers, service stations, and government agencies alike. Whether you shop through the App Store or Google Play Store, there are many fuel apps available for download. Not only do these provide real-time fuel price information, but most offer in-built satellite-map programming, so you can view petrol stations on a map and click around to find the best deal near you.
Within these programs, motorists can update prices after visiting a service station, and even earn rewards for being a regular user. To make things even more appealing, some even offer ‘price locks’ where users can ‘lock in’ a cheap price deal to use at a later date. There’s no shortage of fuel apps for Australians to download. We’ve compiled a list of the most popular ones below:


RACT Fuel SaverRACT Fuel Saver


RACQ Fair Fuel FinderRACQ Fair Fuel Finder


myRAAmyRAA


RefuelerRefueler


My 7-ElevenMy 7-Eleven