$100M Penalties for Fuel Price Gouging — New Laws Explained

The Treasury Laws Amendment (Doubling Penalties for ACCC Enforcement) Bill 2026 doubles the maximum penalties for false or misleading conduct and cartel behaviour to $100 million per offence for corporations.

While the bill covers all ACCC enforcement, it was introduced alongside the fuel excise cut specifically to deter fuel retailers from pocketing the excise saving instead of passing it on to consumers.

The message from the government is clear: if you gouge on fuel prices, the consequences are now twice as severe.

Fuel price gouging happens when retailers increase their margins to absorb the excise cut rather than passing savings to consumers. Signs to watch for:

• Prices didn't drop after 1 April — the excise cut should have reduced prices by ~26c/litre
• Your servo is way above local averages — check fuel comparison apps
• Prices jump right before the cut ends — retailers pre-loading margins before June 30

Use these tools to check prices in your area:

• NSW: FuelCheck app
• WA: FuelWatch
• National: MotorMouth, GasBuddy, or the ACCC's fuel monitoring reports

If you suspect a retailer is gouging:

• Report to the ACCC at accc.gov.au or call 1300 302 502
• Include details: station name, location, price observed, date and time
• Take a photo of the price board if you can

The ACCC has a dedicated fuel monitoring team during the excise cut period. They're actively comparing wholesale costs to retail prices and investigating outliers.

If you drive for work — whether as a delivery driver, sales rep, tradie, or ride-share driver — fuel gouging hits your pocket directly:

• Check your award or agreement for travel allowance or fuel reimbursement clauses
• Track your fuel costs — if you're claiming work-related travel on tax, you need records
• Know your rights: Your employer generally can't make you pay for work-related travel between sites during the day
• Negotiate: If fuel costs have genuinely increased your work expenses, raise it with your employer — especially if you use your own vehicle

Use our take-home pay calculator to see how fuel costs eat into your real earnings.

Unless the government extends the cut, the full excise rate returns from 1 July 2026. That means prices jump back up by ~26c/litre overnight.

Historically, when temporary excise cuts end, prices spike immediately and some retailers use the confusion to pad their margins further.

Plan ahead — budget for higher fuel costs from July and consider whether working from home could save you money long-term.