Brisbane recorded the highest average regular unleaded and diesel prices of Australia's five largest capital cities in the September quarter, according to RACQ findings highlighted on Wednesday (14 October). Its latest fuel-price announcement puts unleaded at 199.2 cents a litre, up 10.6 cents on the June quarter, while diesel eased from 245.6 to 242 cents.
The comparison covers Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide. RACQ's September-quarter report, dated 7 October, says Darwin, Hobart and Canberra were more expensive than Brisbane. The figures are quarterly averages rather than prices motorists should expect at every bowser today.
Adelaide had the lowest regular unleaded average in the five-city comparison at 196.5 cents a litre, which the report puts 2.7 cents below Brisbane. Perth had the lowest diesel average at 238.0 cents. RACQ said drivers in all four other large capitals were also paying elevated prices.
The report attributes the rise in Brisbane's quarterly unleaded average largely to the restoration of fuel excise, alongside a September price surge associated with higher oil prices. Excise increased to 36.6 cents a litre on 1 July, then returned to the full rate of 53.7 cents on 3 August.
Competition and Supply-Chain Costs
RACQ's Principal Economic and Affordability Specialist, Dr Ian Jeffreys, said Brisbane can be more expensive because it has fewer independent stations, reducing competition. ABC News reported the same quarterly averages and his explanation of the city's competition gap.
The report also distinguishes retail margins from costs further along the supply chain. Brisbane's indicative petrol retail margin fell from 11.0 cents a litre in the June quarter to 3.7 cents in September. By contrast, the indicative refinery margin for unleaded was 29.0 cents, compared with an average of 1.2 cents in 2025; the September diesel refinery margin was 62.3 cents.
RACQ describes those supply-chain differences as indications of costs and margins at the refining, importing, wholesaling and retailing stages. Its figures also show variation within South East Queensland: Brisbane South had the lowest quarterly unleaded average at 196.0 cents a litre, while Brisbane Bayside and Redland had the highest at 203.2 cents.
The motoring body is urging governments to reduce dependence on imported unleaded and diesel. Jeffreys identified electrification and biofuels as ways to improve fuel security and limit exposure to oil-price shocks, saying electricity and biofuels are already produced locally.
For motorists comparing individual stations, RACQ's Fair Fuel Price finder provides local price comparisons and buying guidance. The organisation cautions that price updates can be delayed, so its comparison information cannot guarantee real-time synchronisation with every station.