[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: Rising petrol prices need oil strategy, not more exploration handouts: Greens

[Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Monday, 8 May 2006


Rising petrol prices need oil strategy, not more exploration handouts:
Greens

Calls by the oil exploration industry for more public subsidies and tax
cuts for oil industry shareholders exemplify the complete failure of the
Howard government to plan for an oil-constrained future, the Australian
Greens said today.

Greens energy spokesperson Senator Christine Milne said speculation that
the government intends to address rising oil prices by investing in more
roads and oil industry concessions demonstrates that the Prime Minister
and the Treasurer do not understand the structural adjustment that
Australia has to make.

"The Swedish government is aiming for an oil-free Sweden by 2020. Even
US President George Bush has said that Americans have to end their love
affair with oil," Senator Milne said in Canberra.

"The Australian government has consistently failed to recognise that
climate change has the potential to destroy economies and that the days
of plentiful, cheap, easily accessible oil are over.

"Instead of squandering the Budget surplus again, the government should
invest heavily in public transport infrastructure, better connections
between road and rail, and alternative fuels. We also need a national
energy efficiency target, including for vehicles.

"Treasurer Costello had an ideal opportunity last week with his $52
million handout to Ford to strike a mutual obligation arrangement for
the design of fuel-efficient vehicles.

"When I first took my seat in the Senate last year I was shocked to
realise the level of complacency in the government in the face of the
coming oil crunch and so moved to establish a Senate inquiry into
Australia's future oil supply.

"As consumers are faced with milk, bread and petrol price rises because
of rising oil prices, they should question this glaring intelligence
failure of the Howard government."


Contact: Katrina Willis 02 6277 3063 or 0437 587 562


Katrina Willis
Adviser
Office of Senator Christine Milne
Ph: 03 6234 4566
0437 587562
Fax: 03 6234 2144
www.greens.org.au