Bill aiming to curb petrol and rental costs debated

The Consumer Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 contains new measures to curb surprise fuel price hikes and make it easier for renters to move between homes. 

In his second reading speech Nick Staikos, Minister for Consumer Affairs, said the bill would tackle the rising cost-of-living and ‘ensure the markets that serve Victorians are fair, transparent and work for them’. 

‘This bill delivers on this commitment by introducing significant and practical reforms on two of the biggest fronts in the battle against cost-of-living pressures: the price for fuel and the cost of housing,’ he said. 

Under the reforms, fuel retailers will be required to publish their maximum daily fuel price by 2 pm the day before, with the information released publicly by 4 pm. Once that price takes effect from 6 am, it cannot be increased for 24 hours, though retailers may still lower prices during the day.

“ 'This bill delivers ... significant and practical reforms on two of the biggest fronts in the battle against cost of living pressures: the price for fuel and the cost of housing,' ”

Nick Staikos, Minister for Consumer Affairs

Retailers will also face penalties for failing to report price changes within 30 minutes or for not disclosing when a fuel type is temporarily unavailable. 

The bill also introduces a Portable Rental Bond Scheme, allowing renters to transfer their bond from one property to another, rather than paying a new bond when they move. 

The bill also bans agents from charging renters application or background check fees, a move aimed at reducing the upfront costs of securing a new home. 

Tim McCurdy, Member for Ovens Valley, described the new bond provisions as ‘a fair and sensible reform’.

He said the opposition supported the legislation but expressed scepticism that the fuel price measures would save consumers money.  

‘Time will tell, in the next 12 months, whether Victorians save money out of this process, because other states have tried and clearly it has not worked. In fact the Commonwealth Treasury said states need to be very careful going down this path because it has a greater chance of distorting the market than supporting the market,’ he said.  

“ ‘Time will tell, in the next 12 months, whether Victorians save money out of this process, because other states have tried and clearly it has not worked.' ”

Tim McCurdy, Member for Ovens Valley

Member for Tarneit Dylan Wight said the legislation was about building on the Servo Saver feature of the Service Victoria app. 

‘This legislation is all about making things fairer for Victorians, helping them with those tricky cost-of-living pressures that we know so many working Victorians – all Victorians – have been under over the last few years in particular,’ he said. 

Roma Britnell, Member for South-West Coast, said the rhetoric of the bill did not match the reality. 

'By underwriting rental bonds the government is inserting itself into private agreements, creating a bureaucratic maze that risks pushing more costs onto rental providers, which ultimately affects renters themselves,’ she said.   

Member for Yan Yean Lauren Kathage said people in outer suburbs, who do a lot of driving, could save much more than $300 per-year by using the app to source the cheapest available fuel.  

‘If you fill up your tank every week and a half, if you check the prices first, you could get a saving of around $1200 a year. The $300 is an average,’ she said. 

The bill also introduces provisions requiring rental providers to complete gas and electrical safety checks every two years.  

Peter Walsh, Member for Murray Plains welcomed this aspect of the legislation. 

‘A number of years ago we saw the issue in Shepparton where a family was tragically killed because their gas appliance was not up to scratch and they were actually asphyxiated by a faulty gas heater,’ he said.

'It is just so important that we make sure, particularly in units where there is not a lot of natural air getting through, that the appliances are applicable and that people are safe into the future.’ 

Member for Richmond Gabrielle de Vietri said the bill contained some ‘modest but important reforms that respond to the growing movement for renters rights’. 

She said research conducted this year by the Commissioner for Residential Tenancies found ‘9 per cent of properties had visible mould, 10 per cent had inadequate window coverings and 15 per cent failed to meet even the basic standards for heating’. 

She said the same research showed half the agents at inspections could not answer basic questions about safety compliance, energy efficiency or mould history. 

'That is unacceptable. Every person deserves to live in a home that is safe, habitable and healthy. That is why the fact that this bill strengthens mandatory training for real estate professionals is a welcome move,’ she said.   

The full debate can be read in Hansard.