Petrol prices lifted by almost 10 cents a litre last week, with the national average unleaded sitting at $1.83 a litre.
The rise coincides with the return of the full fuel excise tax on Wednesday, although petrol prices weren't meant to surge immediately.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said it would take several days for the extra 22 cents a litre to appear at the pump as retailers would need to work through their supplies of discounted fuel.
