Petrol Station Compliance Checklist for Australian Operators

Running a compliant petrol station in Australia means staying across obligations that span workplace law, dangerous goods regulation, safety requirements, and consumer protection. Most operators know the broad strokes but have gaps in the detail, and those gaps tend to surface at the worst possible time: during an inspection, after an incident, or when a staff member lodges a complaint. Here is a working compliance checklist for Australian petrol and convenience operators.

Employment and Fair Work compliance

• Award coverage confirmed. Verify that all staff are correctly classified under the Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award (MA000089) or the applicable award for your specific employee types. Misclassification is one of the most common causes of underpayment claims.
• Pay rates current. Award minimum rates update each July. Confirm that your base rates, penalty rates, and casual loadings reflect the current financial year rates. Check the Fair Work Commission website after each annual wage review.
• Superannuation paid on time. Super must be paid at least quarterly, by the 28th day after each quarter end. Late payment attracts the superannuation guarantee charge, which is more expensive than the original amount owed.
• Timesheets and records retained. Fair Work requires employee records to be kept for seven years. Records must include hours worked, rates paid, leave taken, and superannuation contributions.
• Casual conversion obligations met. Casuals who have worked regular and systematic hours for 12 months must be offered the opportunity to convert to permanent employment. Failure to make this offer when required is a breach of the Fair Work Act.
• Fair Work Information Statement provided. All new employees must receive the FWIS at the start of their employment. Casual employees must also receive the Casual Employment Information Statement.

Dangerous goods and fuel handling

• Dangerous goods licence current. Requirements vary by state, but most jurisdictions require a dangerous goods site licence for any site storing fuel above a threshold quantity. Check with your state regulator for current requirements and renewal dates.
• Staff dangerous goods training completed and documented.Staff who handle fuel, gas cylinders, or other dangerous goods must be trained in handling, storage, and emergency response. Keep signed records of who completed what training and when.
• Spill response equipment in place and accessible.Spill kits, absorbent materials, and emergency contact information must be accessible to staff, not stored in a locked shed.
• Tank integrity and leak detection current. Underground storage tanks require periodic integrity testing in most states. Check your licence conditions for testing intervals and keep records of all tests and results.

Workplace health and safety

• Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) in place. For any high-risk work activities at your site, including work near fuel storage systems or work involving gas, you need documented SWMS.
• Working alone procedures documented. Solo shifts are common at servos. Most states require documented procedures for workers who are alone, including check-in protocols and emergency contact arrangements.
• Workers compensation insurance current. Confirm your policy is active, covers all workers including casuals, and that your industry classification is accurate. Incorrect classification can result in undercoverage.
• Incident register maintained. All workplace incidents, including near-misses, must be recorded. Serious incidents must be reported to your state WHS regulator. Keep records for at least five years.
• First aid kit stocked and accessible. Check contents against the requirements for your state and the size of your workforce. Expired items replaced. Location known to all staff.

Retail and consumer compliance

• Tobacco display and point-of-sale compliance. Tobacco products must not be visible from outside the store or to customers under 18. Display requirements are strict and vary by state. Penalties for breaches are significant.
• Age verification procedures for restricted products.Staff must be trained on ID checking requirements for tobacco, alcohol if sold, and any other age-restricted products. Written procedure in place and training documented.
• Fuel price signage compliant. State-specific rules apply to how fuel prices are displayed, particularly for sites in fuel price monitoring regions. Confirm your signage meets current requirements.
• Australian Consumer Law obligations met. Refund, return, and warranty obligations under the ACL apply to convenience retail as they do to any retail business. Staff should know the basics.

How to use this checklist

Run through this list at least once a year, and any time you open a new site, take on a new employee category, or receive notice of a compliance review. The items that are most commonly out of date are pay rates (which change each July), casual conversion obligations (which most operators have not properly implemented), and dangerous goods licence renewals (which are easy to miss when you are focused on running the site day to day).

This checklist is a starting point, not legal advice. For obligations specific to your state, your network, or your site type, the relevant regulators, your industry association, and a qualified adviser are the authoritative sources.