[Peakoil] Record oil price sparks call for petrol rationing

[Antony Barry]

Record oil price sparks call for petrol rationing

     * Mathew Murphy and Vanessa Burrow
     * January 9, 2008
     *

AS CRUDE oil sits at record high prices and economists remain  
concerned about its economic impact, one group has proposed the war- 
time measure of rationing.

The Australian Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas (ASPO),  
a group that lobbies for sustainable transport options, is calling  
for the return of the petrol allocation system used in Australia  
during World War II.

Bruce Robinson, ASPO's national convener, said the idea was becoming  
"increasingly essential" with petrol prices hovering around $1.50 a  
litre and rising interest rates already hurting households. The  
impact on the economy of inaction would be "dire", he said.

But a leading economist labelled the proposal "ridiculous". AMP  
Capital Investors chief economist Shane Oliver said the market should  
be allowed to determine the price as the supply and demand curves  
drew closer together.

.... more....  at

<http://business.theage.com.au/record-oil-price-sparks-call-for- 
petrol-rationing/20080108-1kv2.html>

Tony

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