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Queensland Labor has promised to set up a dozen petrol stations owned by the state if it wins the forthcoming state election, after dire polling for the party pointed to a potential defeat.
In an announcement on Tuesday, Premier Steven Miles outlined a plan for 12 publicly-owned fuel stations set to operate on a cost recovery basis.
The location of the petrol stations will be based on where competition is most needed across the state, Miles said in an address to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia.
The stations will sell petrol and diesel alongside electric vehicle fast chargers.
“We don’t control global oil prices and we can’t force privately owned petrol retailers to charge less at the bowser, but a government I lead will do whatever we can to bring petrol prices down,” he said.
“Currently when you fuel up your car, you’re sending money offshore to big multinationals.
“Publicly owned fuel stations will charge a fair price for fuel, increase competition, and ensure Queenslanders have more choice when it comes to filling up.”
Another part of the re-election promise is to limit fuel price increases to 5 cents a litre per day and ban fuel stations from raising prices more than once daily.
Petrol stations would also have to release price changes a day in advance.
The petrol station pledges are the latest announcement in Queensland Labor’s hopes for re-election on 26 October.
In the past year, it’s promised $1,000 energy rebates, 50c public transport fares, 20 per cent savings on light vehicle registration fees, among others.
Queensland Labor is currently trailing the Liberal National Party opposition in polling ahead of the state election.
A recent YouGov poll put the LNP ahead 57 per cent to 43 on a two-party preferred basis.