Category: Compliance
Cleaner Fuel Standards Are Now in Force
On 15 December 2025, Australia quietly crossed a line it had been trailing behind for decades. New petrol quality standards officially came into force, bringing Australia closer to international fuel benchmarks and modern vehicle emissions technology. While the announcement itself was not dramatic, the operational and commercial implications are still unfolding and will continue to […]
Environmental Compliance for Service Stations: What not to get wrong in 2026
In 2026, environmental compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes , it’s about proving your site can withstand regulator scrutiny as a whole system. One weak link can unravel your entire operation. Across Australia, many service station operators manage environmental compliance separately. Fuel systems are handled one way, waste is handled another and stormwater sits somewhere […]
SIRA Compliance in Australia: The Ultimate Guide for Fuel Site Owners in 2026
If you operate a fuel site in Australia, you’ve probably noticed one trend: SIRA is suddenly everywhere. Search volumes are climbing, regulators are tightening expectations, and more site owners are being asked to demonstrate accurate fuel reconciliation practices. The days of assuming your ATG will “pick up any issues” are long gone. Today, SIRA compliance […]
Worker-Compliance & Employment Law Risks at Service Stations
Fuel retail is more than pumps. It’s people, safety, and a full compliance ecosystem. Across Australia, more petrol outlets are being fined for employment law breaches than environmental ones. Underpayments, poor record-keeping, visa worker issues, and unsafe staffing practices are becoming the new front line of risk for fuel retailers, and most owners don’t see […]
Fuel Security & Minimum Stockholding Obligations Defining 2026
As 2025 draws to a close, Australia’s fuel industry is entering a new era of compliance. The Minimum Stockholding Obligation (MSO), introduced under the Fuel Security Act 2021, is now fully operational, and regulators are signalling that enforcement will intensify in 2026. For service station operators, this is not a distant policy issue, it is […]
How Misrepresented Fuel Can Cost Operators More Than They Realise
ACCC enforcement is increasing and operators need to understand the real compliance risks behind signage, additives, and product claims. In the fuel-retail industry, most operators focus on the visible elements of compliance: pump accuracy, tank integrity, environmental monitoring, and safe operations on the forecourt. In focus currently is an increasingly scrutinised area – and one […]
Tank Decommissioning Disasters: Why Operators Keep Paying the Price
At first glance, LPG-tank decommissioning, storage-tank maintenance, or underground fuel-system upgrades might seem like ordinary maintenance tasks – routine, behind-the-scenes, “just engineering work. – but in reality they carry major regulatory, environmental and financial risks. Under Australian law and industry standards, the site owner/operator is fully responsible for compliance before, during and after any mechanical […]
The Hidden Compliance Risk Costing Australian Service Stations Thousands Every Year
What national audits reveal about under-pouring, over-pouring, and why dispenser accuracy is now a frontline compliance issue. Most service-station operators trust their pumps. They trust the equipment. They trust that if the bowser displays 20.00L, the forecourt is dispensing 20.00L. Unfortunately, the national data tells a different story and the consequences of ignoring it are […]
Are You Ready for Australia’s 2025 Fuel-Quality Standards?
Why now is the time to tighten your compliance before regulators tighten theirs. Across Australia, fuel-retailers are preparing for a shift in regulatory expectations. From late 2025, updated fuel-quality and fuel-measurement standards will begin coming into force, and while the changes may sound technical, the consequences of ignoring them are anything but.
When a Service Station Leak Costs $9 Million: Lessons for Today
Nearly a year after the NSW Kanwal case made headlines, the fallout (and opportunity) continues to grow. Fines are rising, enforcement is tightening, and directors may now be held personally liable, even if companies wind up. Here’s why every service station owner needs to act now and how OP can help you stay ahead.