[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE - SENATOR CHRISTINE MILNE - PM Howard's fuel plan fails to provide long-term solutions

[Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Monday, 14 August 2006

PM Howard's fuel plan fails to provide long-term solutions
 

Prime Minister John Howard's fuel plan is a knee-jerk reaction to a
critical issue that requires long-term solutions to safeguard the
national economy and the environment in the face of climate change and
Peak Oil, the Australian Greens said today.

"Prime Minister Howard's fuel plan is an attempt at a short-term fix
when Australia needs a plan to reduce our dependence on oil while
reducing greenhouse gas emissions," Greens energy spokesperson Senator
Christine Milne said in Canberra.

"When will it dawn on the Prime Minister that as world oil demand is
rising, world supply is falling, fundamentally because wells are running
dry, not just because of refinery constraints?

"The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association
estimates that the cost of importing crude oil will be between $12
billion and $25 billion pa by 2015 and significantly higher in later
years, with major implications for the trade deficit.

"There's no point just hoping more oil will be discovered. We need to
start oil-proofing Australia, beginning with redesigning our cities to
reduce dependence on private vehicles and making a major investment in
public transport. Yet Labor, the government and Family First last week
rejected the Greens' call for such action.

"Bringing forward a rebate to help convert vehicles to run on LPG is
welcome but the measure will have a limited benefit. 

"Instead of trying to stem the public's rightful concern about rising
petrol prices with inadequate responses, the government should
immediately remove the GST from public transport, introduce mandatory
fuel efficiency standards and convert the government car fleet to more
fuel efficient vehicles.

"The government also needs to ensure that Australia keeps a strategic
reserve of LNG, for use as a transitional fuel, instead of encouraging
business to export our reserves at bargain basement prices for
short-term profit.

"Oil prices are not going to fall significantly, if at all, for the
foreseeable future. Prime Minister Howard either does not understand
this or cannot rise to one of the greatest challenges we face - making a
smooth transition to a carbon-constrained future."

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