Fuel companies are asking Tasmanians to accept something consumers would never tolerate in any other essential market: sudden, sharp price increases with no clear explanation and no meaningful transparency.

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Fuel prices jumped almost immediately after the Trump and Netanyahu-initiated conflict erupted in Iran, even though it takes weeks and often months for petrol refined overseas to reach Tasmanian bowsers.

So, what exactly are we paying for?

The federal Albanese Labor government has secured assurances that no export restrictions will be placed on fuel cargoes bound for Australia from Singapore, and has shored up supplies from key refined petrol and diesel exporters, Brunei and Malaysia. The Tasmanian Parliament has already moved in the right direction, passing urgent legislation to monitor fuel stocks.

But legislation without disclosure is useless. It is like setting a speed limit and not enforcing it. The public still does not know the wholesale price at which retailers acquired the fuel now being sold. Therefore, talk of "transparency" is bulldust.

Let's be clear. No ordinary business would willingly disclose its markup. Most Australians would agree with that. Competitive markets rely on pricing discretion, and most companies are entitled to protect their commercial strategy. But fuel is........

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