The Australian petroleum industry shares the community's concern about the need to protect our environment and undertakes its activities in an environmentally responsible way. In Australia over 100 wells are drilled each year, both onshore and offshore. Before a well can be drilled, government approvals must be obtained. Controls are placed on all aspects of exploration and production which ensure that adequate and effective monitoring and protection of the environment takes place. See Petroleum Topic - Offshore Drilling .
Petrol prices reflect the cost of crude oil and the cost of producing, distributing and marketing.
In addition, Federal and State taxes are added See Petroleum Topic - Pricing of Crude Oil and Petroleum Products . Franchise fees range from zero in Queensland to 9.7cpl in Western Australia. It is these taxes that make LPG prices substantially cheaper than petrol. The lead in petrol also provided a lubricating effect to the seating of the exhaust valves in many pre-1986 cars. In 1985, the refining and marketing sectors of the Australian oil industry were required by government to introduce unleaded petrol.