16 News

NSW motorists have wasted no time stepping up as Bowser Busters, with consumer intelligence now turbocharging NSW Fair Trading’s fairer fuel price compliance blitz.

The Minns Labor Government kicked off Bowser Busters’ less than two weeks ago and it has been responsible for a significant uptick in Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) being issued to service stations each day.  Reports submitted by motorists through FuelCheck about price mismatches between FuelCheck and the bowser are rapidly translating into enforcement outcomes.

Since 18 March, NSW Fair Trading has carried out over 2,300 field inspections and re-inspections covering around 90% of the state, and has issued over 140 PINs. This includes around 90 PINs issued by inspectors in the field for matters relating to price mismatches, failures to comply with information requirements and service stations found not registered with FuelCheck.

Meanwhile, Bowser Busters have supported inspectors to issue a further 57 PINs since 30 March, including 56 for price mismatching and one other station not registered with FuelCheck – sending a strong signal that the state’s five million motorists are backing NSW Fair Trading inspectors’ effort to deliver fair fuel pricing. Bowser Busters has already doubled NSW Fair Trading’s enforcement outcomes when it comes to price mismatching.

For retailers who fail to meet their obligations, the message remains clear, with on-the-spot fines of $1,100 and court penalties of up to $110,000 applying depending on the offence.

With motorists supporting NSW Fair Trading by having eyes and ears on the ground, inspectors are now able to spend less time travelling and more time taking enforcement action, helping to improve fuel price transparency and prevent repeat breaches.

FuelCheck remains central to the program, with around 350,000 motorists using the platform each day to confidently check prices, track availability and ensure the price they see is the price they pay.

On-the-ground and desktop compliance inspections will continue to occur seven days a week to maximize coverage and presence in every corner of the state. NSW Fair Trading will also continue to re-inspect sites demonstrating abnormal or misleading behaviour.

To explore FuelCheck, please visit: www.fuelcheck.nsw.gov.au/app

Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“The Minns Labor Government knows families are feeling the pressure with petrol prices adding to the cost of living during these uncertain times.

“Our NSW Fair Trading inspectors are out on the ground every day checking service stations are not charging more at the pump than the price they put on FuelCheck.

“With Bowser Busters we have over five million motorists backing our inspectors on every street and road across the state.

“Misleading motorists is never acceptable, and Bowser Busters has supercharged our crackdown on inaccurate pricing.

“Our message to service stations is simple: do the wrong thing and you will be caught.”

NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Natasha Mann said:

“This milestone shows what’s possible when motorists, industry and government all work together for the same goal of transparency at the bowser, especially at a time when every dollar counts for families.”

“Our Bowser Busters are making a real difference by using FuelCheck to stay informed and speak up when something doesn’t look right, proving fairness works best when everyone takes part.

“I want to thank the many service station operators who are doing the right thing every day, updating prices accurately and working constructively with inspectors to keep fuel pricing fair.”

The Minns Labor Government has confirmed that Western Sydney and Hunter football fans, will be able to enjoy a full-strength beer as they watch the action unfold.

Previously, fans attending venues in Western Sydney and the Hunter could only buy mid-strength beer, while fans at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Allianz Stadium in Moore Park could buy full strength beer.

The Labor Member for Riverstone, Warren Kirby MP launched a campaign to change this, calling out how unfair this “East versus West” divide is.

Following the Member for Riverstone’s campaign, the Minns Labor Government’s undertook a six-month trial into the service of full-strength beer which was held during last year’s NRL and A-Leagues seasons.

It was the first time since 2011 that full-strength beer had been served at Accor Stadium, while CommBank Stadium had only served mid-strength beer in general admission areas since it opened in 2018.

At the two Western Sydney venues, last year’s trial saw intoxication as a percentage of attendance remain steady at 0.013%, despite a near 13% increase in crowds year-on-year.

Following consultation with NSW Police and sport and entertainment partners, patrons will be able to purchase a maximum of four full-strength beers per transaction.

Bars in general admission areas at Accor and CommBank stadiums will officially be stocked with full-strength, mid-strength and zero-alcohol beer this footy season.

The service of full-strength beer will also continue at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle and WIN Stadium and WIN Entertainment Centres in Wollongong.

Attendees of major events are encouraged to drink responsibly and make appropriate travel arrangements, to always have a Plan B and to make the most of public transport included with all event tickets to Accor and CommBank stadiums.

Minister for Sport and Tourism said:

“All footy fans are winners this weekend with bars in general admission areas to stock full-strength beer all-season long.

“This is a commonsense decision and it’s about time fans get a choice of full-strength, mid, light and zero-alcohol beer while cheering on their team at the footy.”

Venues NSW CEO Kerrie Mather said:

“Its important patrons have a choice and access to a variety of food and beverage options while attending events at our venues and now they can.

“Delivering the best event day experience remains our key priority, and we can continue to do so through valuable feedback from our fans.”

Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby said:

“This is great news for sports fans who love beer equality as much as they love a full-strength beer.

“It’s a credit to the Minister for Sport and the Premier who both recognised the injustice that was being experienced by fans in Western Sydney stadiums and acted swiftly to ensure everyone is being treated equally when it comes to buying beer.

“Congratulations to the many fans who came out to support the campaign for equal beer rights at all Venues NSW stadiums – Cheers!

Almost a million public transport passengers are getting a much more convenient way to claim their concession, pensioner or seniors fares – and their lower weekly cap – under a digital upgrade to the Opal network.

Concession Opal or Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal fares can currently only be accessed by tapping on with a physical Opal concession card.

In many cases, those eligible to claim a concession fare are instead using contactless payments for the convenience and forgoing the discount.

Under changes announced today by the Minns Labor Government, 40,000 TAFE students and apprentices, 130,000 university students and jobseekers and 800,000 seniors and pensioners, will soon be able link a credit or debit card to their travel concession to enjoy discounted fares using their phone, watch or digital device.

Modelling by Transport for NSW, predicts 70 per cent of TAFE and university students, apprentices and jobseekers will use contactless concessions and between 30-40 per cent of seniors and pensioners.

The upgrades will be rolled out gradually from 16 April.

Amid higher petrol prices and other cost-of-living pressures, there has been a recent spike in public transport patronage, and this upgrade will make it easier for seniors, pensioners and concessions to access the reduced fares they are entitled to claim.

Adult fares are capped at $50 weekly, Concessions and Child/Youth at $25, and a $2.50 daily cap is in place for Senior/Pensioner travellers – meaning once you hit those caps, your trips are free.

On Fridays, weekends, public holidays and outside peak times, fares are 30 per cent cheaper on metro, train, bus and light rail services.

Table of Opal fares for Adult and Concession holders:

	Daily Fare Cap		Weekly Fare Cap
Card Type	Mon-Thu	Fri-Sun & Public holidays
Children 3 and under	Free	Free	Free
Child/Youth	$9.65	$4.80	$25.00
Concession	$9.65	$4.80	$25.00
Adult	$19.30	$9.65	$50.00
Senior	$2.50	$2.50	$17.50

The upgrades are part of the NSW Government’s major public transport ticketing overhaul – Opal Next Gen.

Minister for Transport John Graham said:

“As cost-of-living pressures bite hard, and more people are using the public transport system, this is a timely tech innovation that will make getting through the ticket gates or past the Opal reader that much more convenient for close to a million people and help them save on fares.

“Our modelling suggests the majority of apprentices, university and TAFE students and jobseekers will switch to contactless concessions which shows the appetite out there for digital payments.

“The daily and weekly fare caps are a very real saving for passengers on our network. Adults don’t pay more than $50 a week, concession fares are capped at $25, and seniors don’t pay more than $2.50 a day – or $17.50 a week if they travel seven days a week.”

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:

“This is a practical change that will make a real difference to thousands of TAFE and university students and apprentices across NSW. When you’re studying, training or starting out in your career every dollar counts and this upgrade makes it easier to access the concessions people are entitled to.

“Our government is focused on making life easier and more affordable for people gaining skills and training for the jobs of the future. This is a smart and modern reform that puts convenience and cost savings directly into the hands of students and apprentices.”

Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray said:

“This is an exciting upgrade that means Sydney will soon surpass other world cities like London, Paris and New York as leading the way in advanced contactless payment options for more passenger groups.

“It means 970,000 more passengers, including tertiary and TAFE students, trainees and apprentices, seniors, and pensioners will soon have the choice to tap into the ease of Contactless Concessions and ditch their physical Opal card, without losing their discount.

“We know plenty of our passengers still love their physical Opal card – and it’s not going anywhere. This is about giving people more options, so they can choose public transport more often.”

Five weeks after the closure of Victoria Pass on the Great Western Highway, the Liberals and Nationals are demanding transparency around the reopening of this critical transport corridor. 
  
Transport for NSW first reported surface damage and then structural movement at Mitchell’s Bridge, known as the Convict Causeway, in early March which led to a minimum three-month closure.  
 
Traffic has been diverted via a winding tourist drive and through the Lithgow CBD, placing significant strain on local roads and communities, with heavy traffic reported over the Easter long weekend. 
  
Opposition Leader, Kellie Sloane, said business, freight operators and residents impacted deserved timely answers. 
 
“The Minns Labor Government said they wouldn’t hold back information and yet five weeks on there is no clarity as to how long these repairs will take amid speculation it will be much longer than the three months indicated,” Ms Sloane said.  
 
“Local businesses, freight operators and residents living in the Blue Mountains and Central West deserve transparency around timelines and reassurance about what support they will receive if it is not fixed soon.” 
 
“The Great Western Highway plays a critical role in keeping goods moving to Sydney and the coast. Disrupt it, and it impacts jobs, prices and economic stability across the whole state.” 
 
Shadow Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the community’s patience has run out and they want answers. 
  
“This isn’t a minor inconvenience, it impacts locals, businesses, freight operators and families each and every day. They’re being ignored by a city-centric Labor Government which is hiding behind ‘investigations’ while real people are paying the price every single day,” Mr Toole said. 
  
“If this was Sydney, the fix would be underway. We’re a third of the way through the estimated closure period and no further ahead – no solution, no answers. Regional communities are fed up with being treated like second-class citizens.” 
 
“As commuters sit stuck in traffic, it is an important reminder that both the Federal and State Labor Governments made the decision to cut the long-planned road project through the mountains.” 
 
According to Destination NSW, Central West Tourism alone brings in around $4.9 million every single day to the Central West and supports more than 2,300 local businesses.