‘It's ridiculous': Why a petrol station’s 99-cent fuel sale has everyone talking

Fuel prices have long been a topic of frustration for Australian motorists, with many feeling the sting of rising costs at the pump.

But recently, an unexpected move by a service station has sparked a fiery debate about the government's role in these skyrocketing prices.

What started as a seemingly simple gesture quickly turned into a powerful statement, leaving people questioning the true cost of fuel in today’s economy.


A service station in Melbourne’s south-east caused a stir this morning when it sold petrol for less than a dollar per litre, highlighting the pressure the federal government's fuel excise is putting on consumers.


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Melbourne servo’s petrol stunt exposes rising fuel taxes. Image source: Pexel/Engin Akyurt


APCO at Cranbourne West offered unleaded fuel at 99.9 cents per litre between 10am and 11am, a price not seen in nearly two decades.

Motorists rushed to the station to take advantage of the rare discount, with many waiting in line to fill up.

Jasmine managed to fill the tank of her V8 Commodore for the first time in a while.

‘I can hardly drive this car,’ she said. ‘I drive it once a week now because I can't afford to.’

Pensioner Pauline was also among those to make the most of the cheap fuel.

‘It's ridiculous, I'm on a pension so you have to think, how much out of that pension fortnight have I got to spend on that fuel,’ she said.


The stunt was organised by the Libertarian Party to protest the rising fuel taxes, which currently amount to 55 cents per litre.

David Limbrick, a member of the Libertarian Party, criticised the government for the high taxes on fuel.

‘I think it really highlights that government is just gouging the prices of people so much, whether it's through excise taxes and other taxes,’ he said.

‘And I'm just wrapped that a small number of people are going to get this discount today.’


Peter Khoury from the NRMA weighed in, noting that Melbourne's average fuel price was currently $1.90 per litre. However, he questioned the effectiveness of the protest.

‘The numbers don't add up, we look at average prices when we think about petrol prices,’ he said.

‘But we need the excise. The money raised from the fuel excise should go into and does go into improving the roads and making them safer.’


In a previous story, we reported on a similar stunt earlier this year, when another petrol station made headlines by offering shockingly cheap fuel. Read the full article here.

Key Takeaways

  • A Melbourne servo sold petrol for 99.9 cents per litre to draw attention to the burden of fuel excise taxes.
  • The stunt, organised by the Libertarian Party, sparked a rush of motorists eager to take advantage of the discounted price.
  • Local residents, including a pensioner, expressed frustration with rising fuel costs, highlighting the financial strain.
  • While some praised the protest, others questioned the overall impact of the excise tax on fuel prices and road safety funding.

With petrol prices continuing to soar, is the government doing enough to ease the burden, or is this just the tip of the iceberg? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
 
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Never a truer word said! Many shopping centres have FREE EV charging stations. Ever seen free petrol pumps at such locations? Of course not!

The weight aspect is spot on. A typical Tesla weighs over 500 kgs more than a Hyundai i30!
Free power from NRMA, nothing is free, including charging stations anywhere, only energy from the sun. Must be a first, people complaining there is not enough vehicle fuel taxes and charges, envy much.
 
Free power from NRMA, nothing is free, including charging stations anywhere, only energy from the sun. Must be a first, people complaining there is not enough vehicle fuel taxes and charges, envy much.
Not envy. It is blatant discrimination favouring those with EVs. They get free "fuel" don't they? We don't get free petroleum based fuel.

I wouldn't own a Tesla Fireball if you held a gun to my head!
 
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Not envy. It is blatant discrimination favouring those with EVs. They get free "fuel" don't they? We don't get free petroleum based fuel.

I wouldn't own a Tesla Fireball if you held a gun to my head!
As is your choice.
U R envious of others good fortune and want to see them paying more.
I can't afford an EV, but it's the same as my taking advantage of solar rebates and have not had a bill in over a decade. Many think that is wrong too and are envious, but I'd be a fool to ignore what is on offer.
 
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If Vic runs out of power they will probably take some from SA via the Vic/SA grid and parts of SA will be "cut off"
 
As is your choice.
U R envious of others good fortune and want to see them paying more.
I can't afford an EV, but it's the same as my taking advantage of solar rebates and have not had a bill in over a decade. Many think that is wrong too and are envious, but I'd be a fool to ignore what is on offer.
I very much doubt Veggiepatch is envious, they just use common sense in not wanting to buy an EV. Who can blame them when they can burst into flames at any time, more than "normal" vehicles!
 

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