NSW Fair Trading Minister attacks PM over petrol prices

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-1999
NSW Fair Trading Minister attacks PM over petrol prices

New South Wales Fair Trading Minister JOHN WATKINS has attacked Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD
over soaring petrol prices saying he can't duck responsibility.

Mr WATKINS says the prime minister must re-consider his claims that the market will sort
out price jumps that have seen pertol stations charging up to 85.9 cents a litre.

Mr WATKINS says in a statement that NSW petrol companies are charging whatever they can
get.

Mr HOWARD told a Melbourne radio station last week that the government can't intervene
everytime there's a bit of stickiness in the market.

However Mr WATKINS says the prime minister should take note of a growing chrous of interest
groups calling for him to act.

AAP RTV cf/rat

KEYWORD: PETROL (SYDNEY)

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