Fuel Inspections Target Remote NSW Stations
Summary
The Minns Labor Government has expanded its NSW Fair Trading fuel compliance inspection program into the most remote areas of the state, targeting service stations in Cobar and Lake Cargelligo with around 70 regional retailers on the inspection radar. Inspectors have now visited over 2,300 petrol stations and issued over 210 fines, covering 94 per cent of the state, with approximately 70% of all fines issued in regional NSW including the Southern Tablelands & South Coast, Central West and Riverina. Specific violations include a Snowy Mountains station displaying diesel at $3.00 per litre while advertising $1.96 per litre on the FuelCheck app (a $1.04 discrepancy), and an Upper Murray station selling diesel without any fuel price signage with a 25-cent per litre discrepancy between the FuelCheck advertised price and required pricing.
“NSW Fair Trading inspectors have worked tirelessly to cover off NSW petrol stations and ensure they are doing the right thing at the bowser.”
Fuel retailers in NSW, particularly those previously fined or flagged for pricing discrepancies, face intensified re-inspection activity. NSW Fair Trading has stated it will pursue higher court penalties for repeat violations, escalating beyond the standard $1,100 on-the-spot fine. Retailers should audit their fuel price signage against FuelCheck app prices to identify and correct any discrepancies before the next inspection cycle.
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GovPing monitors NSW Fair Trading News for new consumer protection regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 19 changes logged to date.
What changed
The NSW Fair Trading fuel compliance inspection program has been expanded to the most remote service stations in the state, including Cobar and Lake Cargelligo, with around 70 regional retailers remaining on the inspection radar. Inspectors have now visited over 2,300 petrol stations and issued over 210 fines, covering 94 per cent of NSW. Approximately 70% of fines have been issued in regional NSW, with specific pricing violations documented in the Snowy Mountains and Upper Murray regions.
Fuel retailers across NSW, particularly those in regional and rural areas, should expect continued and intensified compliance inspections and enforcement action. Stations found non-compliant face on-the-spot fines of $1,100 with court penalties of up to $110,000 for repeat violations. Stations that have already been fined are being re-inspected and warned to be extra vigilant as NSW Fair Trading can pursue higher penalties before the Courts for repeated breaches. The Bowser Busters consumer reporting feature has generated nearly 100 desktop compliance fines, meaning consumer reports may trigger inspection activity at other stations.
Archived snapshot
Apr 24, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Ministerial media release
Home stretch: fuel compliance inspections close in on most remote service stations this long weekend
Published: 24 April 2026 Released by: Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Listen The Minns Labor Government is urging motorists to continue using FuelCheck while travelling this long weekend as NSW Fair Trading pushes its statewide fuel transparency compliance inspections into the most remote areas of the state.
Service stations in Cobar and Lake Cargelligo have been the most regional sites targeted in the latest compliance inspections, with around 70 retailers left in neighbouring regions on NSW Fair Trading’s radar for inspection.
NSW Fair Trading inspectors have now visited more than 2,300 petrol stations and issued over 210 fines from Manly to Moree, covering 94 per cent of the state.
More than 750 petrol stations have also been re-inspected after displaying ‘red flag’ behaviours, such as receiving fines or multiple consumer complaints.
Around 70% of all fines have been issued in regional NSW, with the Southern Tablelands & South Coast, Central West and Riverina seeing the highest number of price mismatches.
In the Snowy Mountains, a service station flagged through the Bowser Busters program was found displaying diesel at $3.00 per litre on its fuel price signage, while advertising $1.96 per litre in the FuelCheck app, a discrepancy of $1.04 per litre.
In Walgett Shire, an inspection at a 24-hour unmanned service station identified the site was not displaying required fuel price signage, limiting consumers’ ability to make informed purchasing decisions.
Further inspections in the Upper Murray region identified two service stations selling diesel without any fuel price signage. One of these sites was also found to have a price discrepancy of 25 cents per litre for diesel between the price of $3.24 advertised on FuelCheck and required pricing of $2.99.
Those who fail to meet their obligations face on-the-spot fines of $1,100, with court penalties of up to $110,000. Stations that have already been fined have been warned to be extra vigilant as NSW Fair Trading has the ability to pursue a higher penalty before the Courts for repeated breaches.
As thousands hit regional highways for the long weekend, drivers are encouraged to take advantage of FuelCheck’s Bowser Busters feature to directly report fuel price mismatching and help target compliance activity in communities where it is needed most.
Bowser Busters is working – with everyday motorists now acting as NSW Fair Trading’s eyes and ears on the ground, almost 100 desktop compliance fines have been issued for price mismatches reported by the public.
To explore FuelCheck and become a Bowser Buster, please visit: https://www.fuelcheck.nsw.gov.au/app
Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said:
“These inspection and compliance numbers show that as cost-of-living pressures ramp up, the Minns Labor Government will not back down.
“As our robust re-inspection regime continues, we’re calling on every motorist in the state to report regional and metropolitan service stations that are taking them for a ride.
“This is all part of the Government’s commitment to improve fuel transparency in NSW by injecting $2.2 million to upgrade and maintain FuelCheck, conducting record numbers of compliance inspections and encouraging consumers to report unfair fuel prices.
“My message to service stations remains clear: do the wrong thing and you will be caught.”
NSW Fair Trading Executive Director of Consumer Affairs Andrew Floro said:
“Our NSW Fair Trading inspectors have worked tirelessly to cover off NSW petrol stations and ensure they are doing the right thing at the bowser.
“We are continuing to call motorists to report on price discrepancies as it leads to real enforcement outcomes. Especially in rural areas that are harder to access.
“Ahead of the long weekend, NSW Fair Trading will continue targeted inspections and compliance action, ensuring motorists travelling to regional and rural NSW can rely on FuelCheck when planning their journeys.”
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Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from NSW Fair Trading.
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