Fuel & climate

I have just read a few feedback statements on fuel, all of which agree with, except to say that FUEL IS NOT DEAR. I travel a lot in large mobile homes and know that, if I drive over 95 kph, my fuel usage goes up by at least 10%. So fuel must be still cheap or all those people who I see speeding would slow down. Believe me in Queensland it must be really cheap because those trucks are the fastest in Australia.

Darryl Whiteside
Toogoom NT
6 July 2008
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Do not exclude petrol/diesel from the green house emissions strategy. We have to look into the future, not at the short term pain we will all experience today. Just make sure the poorest of our community are cared for well - disabled, pensioners, single mothers.

Bruce Thompson
Long Jetty NSW
4 July 2008
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Why do people keep whinging about petrol prices? Don't they know that we are running out of the stuff? Labor's direction should be to tax it at the rate that it is, but having the main objective of finding an alternative for petrol.
Keep up the good work!

Sam Davis
Flagstaff Hill SA
2 July 2008
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The so-called "debate" about rising petrol prices is astonishingly infantile. Petrol prices in Australia are by far the lowest or among the lowest in the industrialised world. Instead of whinging and whining about petrol prices we should be focusing on identifying and developing transport options that are less damaging to the environment and more sustainable long term. No Government has a magic wand.

Steve Schwarz
Pymble NSW
30 June 2008
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The government should forget about all the fools who are blaming it for the petrol prices and get on with governing the country. Do not allow public whining to determine policy. I am looking forward to new and innovative government under the PM's leadership.

Carole Aitken
Hursville NSW
28 June 2008
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The economics of fuel prices is driven by consumer expectation, followed by producer price reaction - not demand and supply. If we were to place a ban on media “forecasting” fuel prices or reporting on future market expectations, we would let demand and supply prevail. If demand and supply run a market, greatest efficiency is achieved. If the media runs a market, then deadweight loss is incurred.

Andrew Bowler
Wilson WA
26 June 2008
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Compressed Natural Gas could become the the winner we need to help with our fuel woes. CNG is in vast abundance in Australia. All fuel injected vehicles can be converted to CNG for around the same price of LPG. The take up to this clean and long lasting fuel source in cities with the aid of government subsidies would become quicker as the benefits of natural gas are seen by all.

Jim McGoldrick
Wattle Grovet NSW
24 June 2008
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When can we purchase the Reva (London's Gwiz) in Australia? The Brit's have had them for years. I would also like to see a rebate for the Vectrix as an incentive to purchase, as they are expensive. It's these type of initiatives that will see Australia lead the management of commuting issues now.

Bay Pearson
Newton SA
19 June 2008
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I am not one of the supposed 80% of motorists demanding a cut in fuel prices. I am a motorist and I strongly believe that the days of fossil-fueled transport must end sooner than later. I suspect the so-called demand for fuel price cuts emanate from the likes of the transport and business - the usual lobbies beating the drums of self-interest and short term profit behind this scene.

Philip Hewett
East Gosford NSW
18 June 2008

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The news that over three quarters of Australians think the government should do something about fuel prices is dismaying. It suggests that many people (a) still do not understand that the oil price is largely determined by international factors and (b) don't seem to connect the dots between climate change and car dependency.This is an opportunity to accelerate the adjustment to more diversified forms of transport as well as energy sources. Cutting the excise would achieve very little.

Kate Johnston-Ata'ata
Ivanhoe VIC
17 June 2008

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I don't think that it is the government's responsibility to keep petrol prices low. An increase in petrol prices will make people realise what they are doing, and hopefully reconsider their options. Therefore, I don't think that petrol should be exempt from carbon tax; it should be included to make people more aware of just how much damage they are doing.

Philip Gehrmann
Bicton WA
16 June 2008

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I would like to just ask when can be get on with more important issues, such as health & infrastructure, instead of wasting time on the price of fuel. No government can do much about the price!

Coral Risley
Herberton QLD
15 June 2008

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Given all the talk about excise on fuel, I agree with the government stance that its a cheap populist solution and would not help in the long term. However, given the cost of fuel is driving up prices of goods, I'd suggest susidising fuel for essential services so that the cost of food does not spiral out of control. It would be more cost effective than susidising the whole nation.

Sandra Robertson
Tempe NSW
14 June 2008
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The fuel price crisis is the international matter. If we take off 2 cents per litre, they would up 3 cents the next day. So we should look for other better ways to reduce the pressure for the working family.

Thin Tran
St. Albans VIC
13 June 2008

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Kevin Rudd has fulfilled all of his election promises and much more. He has used his power to do what he can to lower petrol prices and the rest is in the hands of the global market. It's not only Australia that has high petrol prices; most countries are suffering and it's ridiculous to expect the prime minister of one single country to be able to help that issue any further.

Shanthi Pillai
Aspendale Gardens VIC
12 June 2008
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The cost of fuel is one thing - how to stop oil companies taking control of this debate is another. The opposition has said nothing about this and their argument that there are enough fuel watch groups operating already is spurious to say the least. Hold the line - we need a consumer watchdog like Fuelwatch that all people can access quickly and easily - for petrol and groceries.

Bruce Thompson
Long Jetty NSW
11 June 2008
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The government should push a two-pronged attack. First, Fuelwatch to buffer the rapid increase in fuel price which is impacting families. And second, take pressure off families by reducing their need for oil in the future by building better public transport infrastrucuture. Also perhaps announce tax breaks for hybrid card and biofuels. We have been told about peak oil for years and most people know in their hearts that fuel prices are not going to come down.

Phillip Jobling
Newcastle NSW
10 June 2008
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Just a thought, why don't we look to other types of fuels instead of petrol? if we're concerned about the environment as well as the price of fuel, why not seek alternative fuels such as biodiesel or bioalcohols? It'd reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and it's likely to work out much cheaper because it's from a sustainable source. It'd be like hitting two birds with the one stone.

Emma Walton
Brisbane QLD
9 June 2008
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Great work with Fuelwatch! The only way to increase price consistency is to empower consumers on the demand side; justs like Fuelwatch willl do. The supply side is in monopoly control, so this is one great feat that all consumers big and small should embrace. Keep up the good work.

Fernando Abiraad
Belmore NSW
8 June 2008
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The answer to Australia's fuel price dilemma is to reduce our dependence on fuel. Bicycles are the world's cheapest and most efficient method of transport ever. Cycling saves you money (none of the fuel or register costs associated with cars), improves your health (thereby saving community health costs), and it is fun. Ride a bike to work today!

Tom Luckman
Bellerive TAS
7 June 2008
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Fuelwatch allows me to AVOID the average price ASKED and to to buy the CHEAPEST price available. And if folk don't want to bother to get cheaper fuel, they aren't hurting because of it. PS: I don't buy much petrol or LPG these days living so close to the wonderful new trains in Perth. Remember, it was the Liberal party that closed the Fremantle line "because it didn't make a profit"!

John Riley
Perth WA
6 June 2008
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I would like to say that Kevin Rudd is not responsible for the price of petrol. The global market is responsible for the price of petrol, and as our supplies run out the price will increase. I think the public should be made more aware of this. The price of petrol would be the same no matter who was prime minister.

N Chapman
Penrith NSW
5 June 2008
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We are gas rich and oil poor, so why do we still rely on oil as our main fuel source for transport? A hybrid car such as the Prius powered by natural gas would be the perfect solution for the majority of urban family transport for the medium term, and can be implemented relatively easily until we can transition to electric cars.

Electric cars are the only real answer to the transport component of global warming. There will be only one point where pollution needs to be controlled - at the generation site! Let's use some of this huge surplus we have and reform our transport energy economy now.

Paul DeRooy
Brisbane QLD
4 June 2008
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In the late 1990s, General Motors began commercial sales of the EV1, successfully demonstrating that a battery powered, zero emission car was possible. The EV1 was quieter, cleaner and cheaper to run than cars powered by fossil fuels. However, the project was shut own because of pressure by fuel companies.

Why can't Australia begin production of vehicles like these? Combating rising fuel prices by cutting fuel taxes is only going to delay the problem, and hybrid cars still rely on fossil fuels. The only long term answer is to develop a REAL alternative. As a nation, we have the money, skills and resources to do this, and current petrol prices and environmental concerns make it a highly commercially viable project.

Nathaniel Buchanan

Mudgeeraba QLD

3 June 2008
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It would be useful to monitor and report the engine size of cars sold each month. I feel it is irresponsible of people to complain about fuel prices when they choose to drive a car above 2lt when most live in the suburbs and only use the car for work, school and shopping. Start promoting smaller car engines sizes! A 1.6lt car uses far less petrol than a 3lt people carrier each month, and it's better for the environment.

Estell Page

Perth WA

2 June 2008
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Regards the kerfuffle over petrol prices, it is not going to get any better; in fact a whole lot worse is to come. To guarantee the future prosperity, we should nationalise our vast gas resources, build the gas grid Rex Connors envisaged, order all cars to be gas enabled within 5 years, and cease all gas exports within the next 25 years.

Michael Pettigrew

Fingal Head NSW

1 June 2008

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More could be done regarding the price of petrol to the motorist by removing all govrernment taxes which apply to it. Alternatively, encourage people to manufacture and purchase cars powered by LPG or CNG and by subsidising conversions to encourage changeover to this source of power.

John Morgan

Nanango QLD

31 May 2008
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The debate on the federal opposition's proposed 5c a litre cut in fuel excise misses the bigger picture. We have reached peak oil and oil will become far more expensive than it currently is. We have cheap fuel by world standards.

Geoff Hutchins
Cook ACT
30 May 2008

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In recent years, the need for environmental care and action to become more socially responsible has become an increasingly pressing issue. By signing the Kyoto agreement, the Labor government has taken the first steps in restoring our world.

However, more needs to be done - here are four examples. Use a car rating scale - the more fuel economic the car, the less it costs to register each year; use alternative fuels; grow sugar cane in the NT to make ethanol; stop fossil fuel powered power stations and replace them with solar, wind and water power; and use recycled water in gardens, and a recirculating system for long showers.

Nicholas Lancaster
Frankston South VIC
29 May 2008

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England and Europe have been saving fuel and the environment for the last 10 years by embracing the latest diesel technology. A diesel car can be as fuel efficient as a hybrid vehicle. All the government has to do to assist people to take up this option is to make the petrol and diesel prices the same, as it was at one time, and this could be done immediately.

Let's start saving the planet. The cost of diesel is holding back this green revolution in Australia.

Jack Sheppard

Phillip Island VIC

28 May 2008

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With fuel prices going through the roof never to return to reasonable figures isn't this a good time to encourage motorists away from dependency on fossil fuels & in the direction of fuel cell vehicles like the Honda FCX.

Wayne Smeaton

Morningside QLD

27 May 2008

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The biggest single gift our federal government could give Australians now and for the future is a truly sustainable fuel supply. That is where our tax dollars should go and they should go in huge amounts.

Instead of talking diminishing the tax take on fuel, we should increase the tax on fuel and invest in a transition to the sustainable alternative.

Failure to do so will inevitably lead to the collapse of our civilisation as we know it. This sounds dramatic but if you ponder trying to live with fuel prices at $5 and $10 per litre, the flow on effects will be devastating.

Peter Marsh
Littlehampton SA
26 May 2008

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With the recent hike in fuel costs and the ongoing problems with pollution, is there any reason that Australia could not talk to Honda Motor Company and try to become a part of the launch of the FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle which goes into production as at June 16th and will be available to selected areas of the US.

Peter Friswell

Lilydale VIC

25 May 2008

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