[Peakoil] Govt must develop plan to reduce Australia's oil dependence

[Antony Barry]

http://greens.org.au/mediacentre/mediareleases/senatormilne/070906b

Govt must develop plan to reduce Australia's oil dependence


Senator Milne, Thursday, 7th September 2006
The interim report of the Senate's inquiry into Australia's future  
oil supply and alternative fuels highlights the need for government  
to develop a strategy to reduce oil dependence to avoid social and  
economic shocks, Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne said today.

The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee today  
tabled its interim report on a reference initiated by Senator Milne  
last November.

"The Howard government has largely ignored the shift from self- 
sufficiency to oil dependence, saying the market will solve the  
problem," Senator Milne said in Canberra.

"The committee rejects the government's hands-off approach, stating  
that regardless of when the production of conventional oil is likely  
to peak Australia should be planning for it.

"Unless we do, significant sectors of the Australian economy will  
face substantial cost increases. This includes air transport, tourism  
and agriculture, where fuel is the fastest growing cost input and  
farmers have little capacity to pass on higher costs.

"The committee's report notes that solving the transport fuel  
challenge without considering the greenhouse gas implications would  
be flawed.

"The transport sector is the fastest growing contributor to  
Australia's rising greenhouse gas emissions. The government's focus  
on turning coal into fuel liquids is flawed because it would pump  
more greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, exacerbating  
global warming.

"There are also significant social ramifications of rising oil  
prices. Australian research provided to the committee shows that  
people living on the outskirts of cities are already under financial  
pressure because of rising fuel costs and poor public transport options.

"The federal government must begin preparing Australia to reduce its  
dependence on oil, starting with substantial investment in public  
transport and redesigning our cities."

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