Fuel wholesaler
Australian petroleum distributor and retailer owned and operated by Viva Energy, which also owns Shell, Reddy Express, and OTR. Founded in 1995 by David Goldberger and David Wieland, who had previously founded Solo in 1974. Liberty Oil has an 8% market share of the Australian petrol market.
Company Ownership
Liberty Oil Corporation Pty Ltd
AUS
Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd
owns 100% of Liberty Oil Corporation Pty Ltd
AUS
Oil refiner and fuels supplier
Formed in August 2014 when a consortium led by Vitol acquired Shell's downstream business in Australia (including the Geelong refinery and Shell service stations) for $2.6b. Viva Energy supplies around 25% of Australia's fuel and is the exclusive licensee and distributor of Shell branded fuels and lubricants in Australia. Operates more than 900 service stations across the country. Owns 100% of Liberty Oil's wholesale business and 50% of its retail business. Bought the OTR and Coles Express convenience store networks in 2023. Coles Express stores are being rebranded as Reddy Express.
Viva Energy Group Ltd
owns 100% of Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd
AUS
Energy
Operates a retail network under the Shell and Viva Energy brands, plus an oil refinery in Geelong. Listed on the ASX in 2018, with Vitol retaining 30% ownership.
Vitol Holding BV
owns 30% of Viva Energy Group Ltd
SWI
Energy and commodities trader
Founded in 1966 in Rotterdam. Involved in oil refining, trading, shipping, storage, exploration and production, marketing and power generation. It has 40 offices around the world and trades over seven million barrels of crude oil and products a day, controlling about 6.5% of the world oil market in 2016. In 1990, the Dutch owner and seven other partners sold the company to 40 employees including Ian Taylor, the current CEO, with no one owning more than 5%. It is Dutch registered, Geneva headquartered and decision making is made in London.
Company Assessment
(Last updated Jul 2025)
Praise
Criticism
Information
Liberty Oil Corporation Pty Ltd
Praise
Criticism
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Political donations
The democracyforsale.net website, which aggregates data from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), reports that this company donated $5,500 to Australia's major political parties between 2018 and 2023. To view this company's entry in the AEC's Transparency Register, follow the link and click on "Named on the following annual returns as providing funds to:" to see the political donations made by the company.
Source: AEC
(2024)
No tax paid in 2019-20
According to data released by the Australian Tax Office in Jan 2022, this company was one of many local and foreign-based companies that paid no tax in Australia in 2019-20. Please note however that companies pay income tax on profits, not revenue (total income). While some companies use tax havens and loopholes to avoid paying their fair share of tax in Australia, other companies that paid no tax have perfectly legitimate reasons.
Source: ATO
(2022)
Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd
Praise
Criticism
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Fined for uncontrolled discharge
In June 2017 the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) fined this company $15,000 after pumping equipment used to apply a soil binding agent was washed out on site causing waste water to flow into Duck River, Rosehill.
Source: EPA
(2017)
Carbon neutral product
Climate Active is an Australian Government program that supports voluntary climate action by certifying businesses and organisations that measure, reduce, and offset their carbon emissions to achieve carbon neutrality. Viva Energy Australia is certified for a number of opt-in products.
Source: Climate Active
(2025)
APCO member
Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) is a not-for-profit organisation leading the development of a circular economy for packaging in Australia. Each year, APCO Members are required to submit an APCO Annual Report and Action Plan, which includes an overall performance level from 1 (Getting Started) to 5 (Beyond Best Practice). This company received a packaging performance level of 2 (Good Progress) in its 2025 APCO Annual Report.
Source: APCO
(2025)
Employer of Choice for Gender Equality
This company is listed by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) as a Employer of Choice for Gender Equality citation holder. The citation is designed to encourage, recognise and promote active commitment to achieving gender equality in Australian workplaces.
Source: WGEA
(2025)
Sustainability claims
This company has sustainability claims on its website under the headings Diversity and Inclusion, Community, Health and Safety, Environment, Climate change and Human Rights.
Source: company website
(2023)
Viva Energy Group Ltd
Praise
Criticism
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7/20 in Social Benchmark
The 2024 Social Benchmark assesses the world's 2,000 most influential companies on their responsibility in meeting society's fundamental expectations towards three measurement areas: respecting human rights, providing decent work, and acting ethically. This company was assessed in 2023 and received a score of 7/20. The average score was an alarmingly low 4.6/20 and the highest score was 15.5/20.
Part owned by Vitol, which has criticisms
This company is 30% owned by Vitol, which has numerous criticisms and an overall Shop Ethical rating of 'F'.
Source: Shop Ethical
(2024)
High ESG Risk
Sustainalytics, a top ESG research firm, evaluates environmental, social, and governance risks for over 16,000 companies. Its ESG Risk Rating reflects how much risk a company faces in its industry and how well it manages those risks. The final score includes both unmanaged and unmanageable risks, and companies are rated on a scale from negligible (0-10) to severe (40+). This company received an ESG Risk Rating of 34.1, placing it in the "high risk" category (retrieved April 2025).
Source: Sustainalytics
(2025)
Modern Slavery disclosure quality
Modern slavery disclosure is a critical step in mitigating the risk associated with modern slavery practices in companies' operations and supply chains. The quality of the disclosure signals the level of commitments and efforts that the companies have put in managing these risks. In 2021 the Monash Centre for Financial Studies analysed and ranked the disclosure quality of the modern slavery statements submitted by the 300 largest listed companies on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX300). This company's modern slavery disclosure statement received a grade of D.
Source: Monash University
(2021)
20% in Gender Benchmark
In 2023 and 2024, the World Benchmarking Alliance assessed 2,000 companies on their efforts to drive gender equality and women's empowerment across their entire value chain. Companies are assessed on governance and strategy, representation, compensation and benefits, health and well-being, and violence and harassment. This company scored 20 out of 100. The average score was 15.3 and the highest score was 51.
22.7% in Oil and Gas Benchmark
The 2023 Oil and Gas Benchmark ranks 100 oil and gas companies on their climate strategy and performance together with social performance. This company ranked #20/100, with a total score of 22.7/100.
Company Details
Type:
Wholly-owned subsidiary
Founded:
1995
Contact Details
Address:
Level 10, 580 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
Phone:
03 8530 3500
Website: