News Talk ZB - Tough times for NZers as economy bites

He says most people are now feeling the pain of rising interest rates and rising bills for rents, food, fuel and energy.

ABC - Transport infrastructure key issue at local govt conference

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) says a three day symposium starting in Brisbane today will focus on building better working relationships between shire councils and government departments.

LGAQ president, Councillor Paul Bell says 530 mayors and councillors from across the state will attend the event to discuss housing affordability, water infrastructure, economic development, and the skills shortage in rural and regional Queensland.

Councillor Bell says transport infrastructure will be a key issue.

Stuff.co.nz - Air fares to rise as fuel prices jump

Air fares are set to rise next month after jet fuel prices reached record highs in the past week.

The Australian - Labour shortage to delay LNG projects

MORE than $US100 billion ($108 billion) of liquefied natural gas projects in Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Timor Sea are planned over the next decade, but a severe labour shortage and surging costs mean many projects will not go to schedule, keeping global supply tight.

There are plans for 17 new projects and if all go ahead, LNG output from the region will surge sevenfold within 10 years to 117 million tonnes a year -- the energy equivalent of 2.85 million barrels a day of oil or a third of Saudi Arabia's 2007 oil output.

But there's scant chance of this due to surging material costs and a boom-driven labour scarcity in Western Australia.

Stuff.co.nz - Fleet buyers are looking for green alternatives

Toyota says there has been "a seismic shift" in the car buying habits of corporate Australia, with fleet managers demanding more environmentally-friendly vehicles.

The Age - Not many motorists using ethanol fuel

"Despite the community's movement towards greater sustainability and many people stepping up their efforts to reduce emissions, three-quarters of Australian drivers (74 per cent) choose not to use ethanol blends or biofuels," Mr Hughes said in a statement.

The Australian - Drop in Russian oil output pumps up price pressure

RUSSIAN oil production, for years a vital source of new supplies for world markets, is showing signs of a slump, adding to uncertainties that have helped push oil prices to record highs.

Russian output fell for the first time in a decade in the first three months of this year, according to the International Energy Agency. Russian production averaged about 10 million barrels a day, a 1percent drop from the first quarter of 2007.

Herald Sun - Oil Search to focus on PNG

OIL Search has begun its sale of non-core assets to concentrate on developing its planned liquefied natural gas plant in Papua New Guinea.

The Australian - Rising oil flow to pump up Anzon

ANZON Australia expects to produce oil from its Basker 6 well sidetrack off the coast of Victoria from mid-July, boosting its shares and the potential value of any revised bid by Nexus Energy.

"Encouraging (well) results support the existence of a southeast extension to the Basker field and a decision to complete and connect the well immediately," Anzon said in a statement.