Petrol grocery dockets are ‘killing’ independent service stations – many belong to Greek Australian businessmen – who are calling for only undiscounted prices to be shown on fuel boards.

Supermarket discount schemes are being blamed for the closure of more than 1000 smaller operators in four years around Australia.
Australasian Convenience and Petroleum Marketers Association CEO Nic Moulis said motorists might be left worse off as a lack of competition could raise prices permanently.

In recommendations to a Federal Government review of fuel price boards, the association says signs nationwide should display ‘normal’ prices, as in NSW, to avoid driver confusion and unfair comparisons.

“All prices displayed on a fuel price board should be the undiscounted price for that product. The shopper docket program has had a damaging effect on competition in the fuel marketplace, with the number of independent service stations falling 16 per cent in four years,” the recommendations suggested.

Only a cent-per-litre discount size should appear, not the fully discounted price.

While independents still controlled 41 per cent of stations, supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths sold almost half of all retail petrol in Australia, Mr Moulis said.