MAX Smith knows a lot about the fuel industry and how it operates.
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But that hasn’t stopped him from getting irritated and frustrated with out-of-kilter petrol prices in the Forster Tuncurry area.
Since he left the family grazing property in Bourke back in the 1960s Max has owned and operated several successful independent petrol stations both locally and on the south coast.
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For many years he was the owner of the Caltex Service Station in MacIntosh Street, Forster.
Max knows how the big players work out petrol prices and he doesn’t accept the constant excuses from local operators that their prices are a reflection of the high haulage costs.
On a recent motoring holiday around north-western NSW Max wasn’t at all surprised petrol prices were consistently cheaper than the local prices.
“Every site was cheaper,” he said.
“Even the little tin pot sites were cheaper than Forster.”
He said while Tuncurry had $1.20 on a litre of diesel, it was $1.09 in Narrabri, $1.05 in Maitland and $1.06 in Nabiac.
“They (local operators) cannot put it down to transport costs.
“What about the little bloke in Bingara he has to truck it in too.”
His, and wife Robyn’s self contained Fiat self motor home took 100L of diesel to fill-up.
“But, those cheaper prices enabled me to save around $19 a tank,” Max said.
He believed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) was not doing its job.
“The ‘watchdog’(ACCC) should get off their backsides and do what they are paid to do.”
He has a strong opinion that politicians are not dedicated enough to stand up to the fuel companies.
He thinks Forster Tuncurry residents should be able to buy their petrol for the same prices as petrol sold at Nabiac.
“This petrol game is ruthless.”
