AN Office of Fair Trading (OFT) spokesman has warned  hefty penalties could be handed down to any Toowoomba service stations found guilty of collusion.

The warning comes as investigations continue into complaints that four Toowoomba service stations raised their prices unfairly following the removal of the State Government fuel subsidy on Wednesday.

“If the complaints of collusion are substantiated, the OFT will pass the details of the service stations on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission which can issue fines of $10 million to fuel companies and $500,000 to individual petrol stations,” the spokesman said.

“As for cases of individual service stations excessively raising their prices, consumers are advised to shop around for the best price.”

The OFT spokesman said  it continued to receive complaints of petrol price rises from locations across Queensland yesterday, although none of the new complaints related to Toowoomba service stations.

A survey of some Toowoomba fuel stations revealed prices close to the city centre had not changed since Thursday with the price of unleaded petrol at BP North dropping by one cent per litre.

RACQ state president Richard Pietsch said he would be disappointed if allegations of collusion were to be substantiated by the ACCC.

However, Mr Pietsch said he acknowledged that fuel prices in the region should have risen by around nine cents per litre.

“The rise of nine cents has come about because the government has chosen to take the money for themselves rather than give it back to motorists through the rebate,” Mr Pietsch said.

The OFT spokesman said  complaints could be made on the OFT website at www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au or by calling the hotline on (07) 3115 1783.