From 10 March 2026, new fuel pricing rules will apply to service stations across Victoria, bringing tighter reporting requirements and substantial penalties for non compliance.
Under the updated framework, Consumer Affairs Victoria will have expanded authority to issue infringement notices to retailers who fail to correctly register or report fuel price changes. Service station operators who breach the rules may face fines of more than $3,000 per offence. More serious or repeated breaches could result in court action, penalties exceeding $24,000 and potential convictions.
What Service Stations Must Do
Each day by 2 pm, every Victorian service station must submit the maximum price it intends to charge the following day for each fuel grade. This information will be published on the Service Victoria app from 4 pm, allowing motorists to see the next day’s capped price before they fill up.
Once a price has been set for the following day, it becomes a firm ceiling. From 6 am, that cap applies for 24 hours. Operators can reduce their price during that period if they choose, however they cannot increase it again until the next daily cycle. In practical terms, this changes how sites manage daily price movements, particularly during volatile wholesale cycles.
Ongoing Rollout and Industry Impact
Mandatory fuel price reporting has technically been in place since August 2025, which was considered the first phase of the Fair Fuel Plan. The daily price cap represents the second phase and follows legislation passed in late November 2025.
There has been some confusion during the rollout, particularly around the availability of live fuel prices in the Service Victoria app. While reporting obligations have applied for several months, not all stations have displayed live pricing consistently within the app environment. Consumer Affairs Victoria is responsible for overseeing compliance and supporting retailers to understand their obligations.
Victoria is now the final Australian state to introduce mandatory live reporting requirements for fuel pricing.
What This Means for Independent Service Stations
For independent operators, this reform introduces greater administrative discipline around pricing processes. Accurate and timely reporting will be essential to avoid penalties. Clear internal procedures for setting daily prices, approving submissions and monitoring compliance will become part of normal site operations.
At the same time, the public visibility of next day pricing may influence competitive dynamics, particularly in metropolitan areas where motorists can easily compare sites before deciding where to refuel.
While the policy has been positioned as cost of living relief for motorists, service station operators should treat it primarily as a compliance priority. With meaningful fines attached, having robust daily reporting systems in place will be critical from day one.
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