New details in watchdog’s lawsuit claim cheap Perth fuel chain sold more premium 98 than it bought

Résumé détaillé

Consumer Protection obtained figures that found customers paid for nearly 9 million litres of 95 fuel over an eight-month period. However, delivery logs found over the course of six months allege not a single litre of 95 was delivered to any of Burk’s locations.

A writ filed in WA’s Supreme Court has revealed details of Burk Fuel’s alleged fuel-swapping scheme, claiming the petrol chain sold more than four times as much premium 98 than it actually bought and accusing the retailer of tricking customers by secretly filling and mixing premium tanks with cheap regular unleaded.

Consumer Protection announced on Monday it was suing Burk Fuel and its director Umar Farooq for allegedly selling 91 fuel that was labelled as 95 and 98 premium products in an alleged breach of Australian Consumer Law.

However, the writ, published in WA’s Supreme Court on Thursday, revealed Consumer Protection was not just suing Burk Fuel, but also its subsidiary trucking company Burk Energy, which was used to ship its fuel.

Burk previously advertised its in-house trucking company as a way to cut costs on delivering its fuel, and claimed its 98 fuel – otherwise known as its B-Pro Premium product – would provide customers with “cleaner combustion and superior engine protection”.

“When it matters, trust the fuel that’s built for power,” it said in its advertising materials, according to the writ.

However, the writ systemically laid out the basis of the alleged deception, and found the strongest evidence appeared to be discrepancies between what Burk bought through its petrol wholesaler and how much was sold to consumers.

Burk has previously indicated it would fight the allegations, but has made no comment following Consumer Protection’s announcement on Monday.

Farooq has repeatedly been contacted for comment. The company is due to file a defence at a later date.

Consumer Protection obtained figures that found customers paid for nearly 9 million litres of 95 fuel over an eight-month period, between July 2025 and February 2026.

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