After receiving complaints from residents about the price difference in fuel between Batemans Bay and surrounding areas, Dr Hendy moved to do something about it. 

“Batemans Bay has one of the highest prices for unleaded petrol in the state,” Dr Hendy said. 

“Moruya and Ulladulla regularly pay less.”

Dr Hendy said last week the weekly average price for petrol in Batemans Bay was $1.55 per litre, compared with $1.43 in Moruya and $1.46 in Ulladulla. 

“Data from the Australian Institute of Petroleum shows the weekly average price for unleaded petrol in Batemans Bay is consistently and significantly higher,” Dr Hendy said. 

 He said the issue was clearly not related to transport issues. 

“Transport is often what is said to be the 

reason for higher fuel prices in regional towns. That isn’t the case here,” he said.

 “Rather than jumping to conclusions, I want an investigation into the anomaly here.”

Dr Hendy said it might be an issue which could be referred to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, but more needed to be done than merely watching fuel prices. 

“This is why I have written to the Treasurer asking him to investigate whether there are any structural issues with the local market resulting in this unusual pricing pattern,” he said.

Dr Hendy hopes to meet with Mr Hockey to discuss the issue as soon as next week. 

Batemans Bay resident John Williams has long been fed up with fuel prices in Batemans Bay, and instead travels to Cullendulla, where, he says,  petrol is almost always 10 cents cheaper.

“I think it is because of a lack of competition in the area,” Mr Williams said. 

“There may be a level of price fixing going on as well.

“The big guys rely on their location because people from the ACT or Sydney don’t know where the smaller independent stations are.”

A Facebook group called ‘Cheapest fuel Batemans Bay and surrounds’ has also been set up, where people compare prices in the area.