Western Australia Diesel Drops 2.4 Cents While the East Coast Keeps Climbing
Across 459 stations in Western Australia, diesel prices fell 2.4 cents overnight to an average of 294.5 cents per litre. That might sound like a modest movement, but when you place it alongside the 7.8 cent increases recorded in both New South Wales and Tasmania on the same day, the divergence becomes notable.
The data tells an interesting story about how Australian fuel markets can move in completely opposite directions depending on where you fill up.
The National Snapshot
Looking at diesel averages from the past 24 hours, the east coast and west coast are heading in different directions. NSW climbed 7.8 cents to 296.7 cents per litre across 1,070 stations. Tasmania recorded an identical 7.8 cent increase to 293.7 cents across 245 stations. South Australia added 2.6 cents to sit at 297.3 cents.
Meanwhile, WA dropped 2.4 cents, Victoria eased 0.4 cents to 293.9, and Queensland barely moved at all, slipping just 0.6 cents to 294.7.
That puts the gap between the cheapest state average (Northern Territory at 292.3 cents) and the most expensive (SA at 297.3 cents) at just 5 cents for diesel. But those averages mask enormous variation within each state.
Where the Real Savings Are in WA
The headline average of 294.5 cents across Western Australia only tells part of the story. A closer analysis reveals that the cheapest diesel in the state is sitting at 199.5 cents per litre, while the most expensive is 330.3 cents. That is a 130.8 cent spread.
Much of that variation comes from remote areas. Kununurra is a perfect example, where five stations show an average of 274.9 cents but individual prices range from 199.5 cents all the way up to 330.3 cents. That 130.8 cent spread within a single town is one of the largest in the country right now.
Closer to Perth, the picture is more consistent. Kwinana Beach averages 289.7 cents across five stations with a tight 14 cent spread. Forrestdale is similar at 286.5 cents with just 7 cents between cheapest and dearest. Byford sits at 287.5 cents, and Pinjarra at 288.3 with only a 6 cent spread.
Naval Base is worth noting for commercial drivers, averaging 289.1 cents across four stations with an 8.4 cent spread. Waroona, further south, averages 288.9 cents.
Statistically speaking, motorists in the Perth metro area are looking at diesel prices that are 2 to 8 cents below the state average, which is a substantial saving over a full tank.
The Northern Territory Spread
While WA has the widest spread in metro areas, the Northern Territory takes the national record with a staggering 251.7 cent gap between cheapest and dearest diesel. The average sits at 292.3 cents across 171 stations, but prices range from 147.3 cents to 399.0 cents.
Remote communities show the extremes. Borroloola averages 265.0 cents with four stations, while Ti Tree averages 266.3. Katherine is more consistent at 280.4 cents with a tight 10 cent spread across four stations. Mataranka shows remarkable uniformity, with three stations averaging 285.6 cents and less than 1 cent between them.
The numbers indicate that competition and proximity to supply chains remain the biggest factors in remote pricing, regardless of wholesale movements.
What This Means for Motorists
This represents a notable shift from the usual pattern where diesel prices move in lockstep across the country. The east coast increases appear driven by wholesale cost adjustments flowing through to retail, while WA and Victoria are absorbing or passing on different supply dynamics.
For Perth area drivers, the current dip makes this a reasonable time to fill up. Suburbs south of the city, particularly around Kwinana Beach, Forrestdale, and Byford, are consistently offering the best value with tight competition keeping prices honest.
For those in regional WA or the NT, comparison shopping remains essential. The data shows that even within a single town, prices can vary by more than a dollar per litre. That is the difference between a $60 fill and a $90 fill on a standard 4WD tank.
The numbers are clear: motorists who check prices before filling up, particularly in regional areas, could save substantially on every tank.
