Overview
- The Cook government, which moved on Wednesday under a 1972 fuel law, will enforce new rules from midnight Thursday to obtain detailed stock and distribution data from major fuel suppliers with fines up to $100,000 per day for non‑compliance.
- The step follows partial industry cooperation after only three of six targeted suppliers provided the requested information on holdings, shipments, and delivery plans.
- Authorities say the data will help direct available fuel to short regional areas such as the Goldfields and Wheatbelt where some outlets have temporarily run dry.
- Western Australia remains at level two of the national fuel security plan, so there is no consumer rationing and suppliers cannot be compelled to divert contracted volumes without a higher alert level.
- Police have increased patrols at service stations as fuel theft reports rise and prices stay high, even as a federal cut to fuel excise begins to trim pump prices in Perth, and state parliament returns on April 14 to table the orders.