Mr Joel Fitzgibbon, Federal Member for Hunter, has issued a media release and an accompanying document from the Shell Oil Company.
Mr Fitzgibbon claims that the document proves that up to $500 million of taxpayers' money is going directly into the pockets of the major oil companies and that the Shell Company is clawing back money allocated under the Government's Fuel Sales Grant Scheme, denying regional motorists any benefit whatsoever.
He also states that he has been advised that a number of small business service station operators say that other companies are doing the same thing.
"The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has had this document for some time. It approached the Shell Oil Company for an explanation and is now considering its written response as to the document's significance", ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today.
"Shell denies any wrong doing. The ACCC is continuing to investigate the matter.
"The ACCC has been conducting a more substantial investigation into similar issues concerning another major oil company. This investigation has involved the use of the ACCC's powers under Section 155 of the Trade Practices Act 1974. Section 155 of the Act provides that where the ACCC has reason to believe that there may have been a contravention of the Act it can require corporations and persons to provide evidence and it may question individuals.
"The ACCC has some information from service station proprietors on this matter. It would welcome evidence from any service station proprietor as to whether or not the oil companies or distributors have been effectively absorbing the grant in their particular case".