Aussies can feel confident when filling up their tanks as the National Measurement Institute (NMI) undertakes a nationwide audit of fuel pumps.
From 2 to 27 March, trade measurement inspectors will visit up to 350 retail fuel sites including major brands, independents and new traders. They will check if retail fuel sites are following Australia’s strict measurement laws.
This audit makes sure fuel dispensers are accurate, approved and follow national standards. Our inspectors will:
- check if the equipment is working within the allowed error limits
- examine operators’ maintenance, calibration and staff training records.
They will also collect fuel samples to support the Fuel Quality Standard monitoring program, which NMI conducts on behalf of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
High-risk and new traders will be the main focus of the fuel audit program. Follow-up visits will target businesses that have had problems before.
Most of the problems found in previous fuel audit programs have been small or technical mistakes. When businesses learn about issues, they usually fix them quickly. If an inspector catches a retail fuel site giving customers less fuel than they paid for, fines of up to $222,000 can be imposed for each offence.
NMI works closely with industry groups and servicing licensees to encourage regular maintenance and better compliance across the industry.
Over the past 5 years, inspectors have responded to consumer complaints by conducting more than 1,800 audits. Of these, just 9.7% were genuine breaches. This reinforces the value of targeted inspections and ongoing engagement with industry.
NMI will publish an interim report after the audit, with a final version to be published after the end of the financial year.