New legislation passed by the NSW Government will introduce tougher fuel price disclosure laws aimed at improving transparency and preventing motorists from being misled at the bowser.
The Fair Trading (FuelCheck) Amendment Bill 2026 expands the powers of NSW Fair Trading by making it illegal for service stations and fuel retailers to fail to report fuel prices or notify when a fuel type becomes unavailable.
The changes strengthen the state’s FuelCheck system, which provides real-time fuel pricing and availability information from around 2,400 service stations across New South Wales.
Under the new laws, penalties for non-compliance will increase substantially. On-the-spot fines will double to $1,100 for individuals and rise to $3,300 for companies. Repeat offences within 12 months will attract penalties of up to $5,500 for individuals and $11,000 for companies.
Courts will also be able to impose higher maximum penalties, including fines of up to $55,000 for individuals, while company penalties of up to $110,000 remain in place.
The tougher rules follow an extensive inspection program by NSW Fair Trading, which has carried out almost 5,000 field inspections and re-inspections. More than 290 fines totalling over $315,000 have been issued, with around 80 per cent relating to discrepancies between advertised and pump prices.
The NSW Government said FuelCheck now attracts around 150,000 daily visits across its app and website and forms part of a broader fuel transparency and fuel security strategy, supported by a $2.2 million system upgrade.
Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Anoulack Chanthivong, said the legislation was designed to ensure motorists received accurate pricing information.
“We know that fair pricing starts with fair behaviour at the bowser,” said Chanthivong.
“That’s why the Minns Labor Government has passed tough new laws cracking down on service stations doing the wrong thing.
“Because every motorist, in every corner of the state, deserves confidence that they’re not being ripped off between the price at the pump and the price on FuelCheck.”
NSW Fair Trading Commissioner, Natasha Mann, said the amendments would strengthen the role of FuelCheck across the state.
“FuelCheck is a crucial tool that puts power back in the hands of motorists and allows them to make informed decisions about the price and availability of fuel,” said Mann.
“This is about strengthening FuelCheck to ensure that it works for everyone.”
