Fuelling Australia: Structural Changes and New Policy Challenges in the Petrol Industry

Abstract

This article discusses structural changes and emerging policy issues in the Australian petrol industry. The evolution of wholesale markets is a globalisation story: rapid economic growth in countries like China and India is bringing global crude and petrol prices to historical levels and creating significant changes in Australian petrol refining and distribution. In the retail market, recent anti-trust cases have centred on information technology, specifically online platforms that aim to inform firms and consumers of petrol prices. I discuss these and other developments that are creating new challenges for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.