Motorists angry at cut to fuel subsidy | Biloela News | Local News in Biloela

“IT stinks” was how Biloela man Roy Gourley described the abolition of the fuel subsidy as he fuelled up on Tuesday afternoon.

Motorists all over the state said goodbye to the government's fuel subsidy scheme at midnight on Tuesday.

The scheme allowed drivers to receive an 8.354 cents a litre saving on eligible fuel purchases.

Mr Gourley said if the abolition of the subsidy had happened two months ago it would have affected him a great deal more because he had been driving to and from Moura to work at the Dawson Mines every day.

The end of the subsidy is predicted to affect many people in a negative way.

“Sure, it's going to be hard, it will make going away difficult,” young mother and Biloela resident Noelene Wright said.

“The kids will definitely be walking to school now.”

Mobil worker Fran Stevens told the Central Telegraph said they were very busy Monday and Tuesday -“100 per cent on a normal day.”

People were also filling up jerry cans.

Mobil manager Judy Wright said people were buying fuel in a panic.

“I think all over town was busy,” she said.

When the Central Telegraph noted the prices on Tuesday the average price was 120.9 cents a litre; by Wednesday that had increased to an average of 129.9 cents.

Premier Anna Bligh has expressed her concern about fuel companies profiteering as she warned the ACCC was on red alert.

The State Government investigators have been keeping a close eye on the petrol price rises in the lead-up to abolition of the subsidy, to ensure that no one takes advantage of the changed changes.

“We will continue to do that in the coming months as intelligence is gathered from industry and other bodies on any abnormal price rises” Ms Bligh said.

Ms Bligh has plenty of backing from Minister for Fair Trading, Peter Lawlor.

“I'm taking this opportunity to place service station operators on notice that they should not try and use the abolition of the fuel subsidy to jack up prices,” he said.