[Peakoil] Fwd: [Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE - SENATOR CHRISTINE MILNE - Govt must develop plan to reduce Australia's oil dependence

[Antony Barry]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)" <Katrina.Willis at aph.gov.au>
> Date: 7 September 2006 1:21:21 PM
> To: <media at lists.greens.org.au>
> Subject: [Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE - SENATOR CHRISTINE MILNE -  
> Govt must develop plan to reduce Australia's oil dependence
>
> MEDIA RELEASE
>
> Thursday, 7 September 2006
>
> Govt must develop plan to reduce Australia's oil dependence
>
> 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."
>
> The committee's interim report can be found at
> http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/rrat_ctte/oil_supply/ 
> int_report/i
> ndex.htm
>
> 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
>
> --
> Another message from the Greens Media mailing list.
>
> Too many messages? Don't unsubscribe - try switching to a daily  
> digest.
> You can unsubscribe or change your subscription settings here:
> <http://lists.greens.org.au/cgi-bin/mailman/options/media>
> Or send an email to <media-unsubscribe at lists.greens.org.au>

phone : 02 6241 7659 | mailto:me at Tony-Barry.emu.id.au
mobile: 04 1242 0397 | mailto:tony.barry at alianet.alia.org.au
http://tony-barry.emu.id.au