WA Fuel Watchdog Intensifies Crackdown on Service Station Compliance Breaches
A significant number of service stations in Western Australia have been caught violating the state's fuel compliance regulations, as motorists continue to grapple with escalating prices at the pump. Despite the Cook Government's stringent measures to enforce transparency, requiring all outlets to report fuel availability and prices to FuelWatch 24 hours in advance and maintain those prices for a full day, infringements persist.
Increased Fines Fail to Deter Violations
The penalties for non-compliance have been dramatically increased, with fines soaring from $1,000 to $4,000, yet this has not sufficiently curbed the deceptive practices of some service stations. Consumer Protection has ramped up its inspections since the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, which has contributed to rising fuel costs. According to an official statement, "Since the start of the Middle East conflict, Consumer Protection has significantly increased inspections at fuel outlets across Western Australia."
As part of a targeted initiative launched on March 9, 2026, officers have conducted visits to 645 outlets, including 445 in the metropolitan area and 200 in regional WA. Outlets are mandated to report any fuel shortages, but compliance issues remain widespread.
Public Tip-Offs Lead to Major Breach Discoveries
West Australians are still facing high fuel costs despite a recent excise cut implemented on April 1, prompting FuelWatch to enhance spot checks across the state. Public reports have been instrumental in the crackdown, leading to the identification of 26 stations that breached transparency rules. The Consumer Protection statement revealed, "In addition to the proactive inspections, Consumer Protection has received 23 enquiries and 28 complaints from the public about potential breaches of the 24-hour rule."
As a result, 26 infringement notices have been issued since February 28, 2026. For serious or repeated violations, penalties can escalate to up to $20,000 for individuals or $100,000 for corporations if cases proceed to court.
Ongoing Investigations and Enforcement Actions
Among the 26 infringement notices, four cases are under further investigation, indicating potential for more severe enforcement actions. Consumer Protection WA Commissioner Trish Blake emphasized that not all breaches involve price gouging. She stated, "They have to list a price board... we don't expect anything major, that's all we ask for. Then we've got a couple of investigations on which will likely result in court action instead of an infringement notice, because this is where we might be seeing slightly more egregious behaviour, or where we're seeing repeat behaviour."
Currently, the average price for unleaded petrol in the metropolitan area stands at 227.4 cents per litre, while diesel averages 318 cents per litre, highlighting the ongoing financial strain on consumers.
