Mideast conflict to raise Australia's petrol prices

Australian motorists could see significant rises in petrol prices this week.

Crude oil prices last week hit a 10-year high as a result of the crisis in the Middle East.

And Ron Bowden from the Service Station Association says upward pressure on prices is expected to continue.

"Judging by what we're seeing now and the way the crude market responded to the situation there, late in the week, we could see prices at the pumps go as high as $1.15 a litre," he said.

"But on the other hand if things are resolved quickly we could see a lot less than that and perhaps just over the dollar.

"But it seems to us at the moment that we're heading into the three figures."

-- Carl Jenkins (Somewherepress@aol.com), October 15, 2000