10 May 2023

Viva’s great rip-off: Weipa motorists pay the price

| Matt Nicholls
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WEIPA motorists continue to get ripped off at the bowser as a result of Viva Energy.

Despite the fact that the fuel is shipped directly to Weipa’s port, the cost of unleaded and diesel is higher in Weipa than in Alice Springs.

Viva Energy won’t respond to Cape York Weeklyregarding its obscene gate price for fuel at Weipa, which is 25 cents per litre more expensive than Cairns.

As of Monday morning, the cost of fuel at the Weipa Servicentre was $2.22 for unleaded and $2.19 for diesel.

At Cooktown, unleaded was $1.95 and diesel was $2.15 – even though that fuel is trucked from Cairns.

Weipa motorists are being hurt by Viva Energy’s ridiculous gate prices, which are some of the highest in the country.

Weipa Servicentre is contractually obligated to make its pricing calculations based on Viva’s gate prices.

Viva is charging $1.82 for unleaded at Weipa, but the cost at Cairns is $1.57. Even Port Lincoln in South Australia is being charged $1.59 for unleaded.

Diesel is more expensive around the country but Weipa is still a victim of Viva Energy’s price gouging with a gate price of $1.84 per litre, much higher than the $1.74 that Cairns is charged or Brisbane’s $1.70 per litre.

The reduction of the federal government’s cut to the fuel excise tax has yet to be seen in the Far North, with experts predicting the 22 cents per litre reduction to appear later this week.

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