[Peakoil] Fwd: [Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: Govt leaves Australian economy exposed to high oil prices: Greens

[Antony Barry]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)" <Katrina.Willis at aph.gov.au>
> Date: 20 April 2006 1:12:32 PM
> To: <media at lists.greens.org.au>
> Subject: [Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: Govt leaves Australian  
> economy exposed to high oil prices: Greens
>
> MEDIA RELEASE
>
> Thursday, 20 April 2006
>
> Govt leaves Australian economy exposed on high oil prices: Greens
>
> The federal government has left Australia exposed to a serious  
> economic
> shock over the cost of oil, Australian Greens energy spokesperson
> Senator Christine Milne said today.
>
> "Treasurer Peter Costello has expressed surprise at how long oil  
> prices
> have remained high and says continuing high oil prices could cause
> economic problems for Australia," Senator Milne said in Hobart.
>
> "But the signs have been evident for all to see. At an international
> level, for every 2.3 barrels of oil used, only one barrel is  
> discovered
> while Australia's domestic oil supplies are falling and no new  
> major oil
> fields have been discovered in the past 20 years.
>
> "The Australian Petroleum Exploration and Production Association
> estimates that within 10 years Australia's oil self-sufficiency will
> fall from 65% to between 20% and 30%, widening Australia's trade  
> deficit
> by about $30 billion per year.
>
> "The federal government has had a decade to prepare Australia for a
> future based on dwindling oil supplies but it has failed to take
> seriously the reality that the era of cheap, easily accessible oil is
> over. Global politics and finite supplies are converging to generate a
> crisis.
>
> "I moved for a Senate inquiry into future oil supply and alternative
> fuels because it was clear to me that energy security is urgent and
> critical and not on the Howard government radar. It is yet another
> intelligence failure of the Howard government.
>
> "Whilst Prime Minister John Howard and Treasurer Peter Costello have
> been lulling Australians into complacency and facilitating the use of
> motor vehicles and the construction of more and more highways,  
> European
> countries have been assessing their vulnerability to an oil  
> constrained
> future.
>
> "They have been providing incentives for the development of  
> alternative
> fuels, regulating for fuel efficient vehicles, investing in public
> transport and increasing fuel charges to encourage conservation and  
> the
> search for alternatives.
>
> "Countries such as China have locked up long-term oil supply through
> contracts with oil-producing countries. Australia seems to have
> overlooked the fact that most oil is owned by nations and that  
> owing to
> geo-politics, Australia may not be able to buy overseas even if oil  
> were
> available and we could afford to purchase it.
>
> "Even US President George Bush has recognised the problem. Sweden has
> announced a plan for an oil free future by 2020. What is Australia's
> plan to oil proof the country?
>
> "Prime Minister Howard can no longer put off the difficult decisions
> Australia must face."
>
>
> Contact: Katrina Willis 03 6234 4566 or 0437 587 562
>
> Katrina Willis
> Adviser
> Senator Christine Milne
> Phone 03 6234 4566
> Fax 03 6234 2144
> Mobile 0437 587 562
> www.christinemilne.org.au
>
> --
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