The Bullroarer - Sunday 18th May 2008

Drivers face fuel ration shock

FUEL rationing may be one in a series of shocks facing drivers and commuters in Queensland. Looming oil shortages would produce the biggest change in society since the industrial revolution, Sustainability Minister Andrew McNamara warned yesterday.

To underscore his concerns Mr McNamara will appear in a documentary film premiering next week in which he says the days when Queenslanders could "travel on a whim" in oil-powered vehicles are numbered. The documentary Australia Pumping Empty, argues southeast Queensland is squandering billions on road, bridge and tunnel projects which few will be able to afford to travel on.

Opening Night for the movie "Australia Pumping Empty" is in Brisbane this Tuesday, 20th May.

"I think people are going to be in for a shock when they find it's too expensive to drive their cars to work and then, when they get down to the station, they find the train is full and they can't get on board," Mr McNamara said.

Meanwhile, in other Sunday news..

The Age: No relief at pumps despite oil flow boost

The Saudi production increase was seen in the market as minuscule, and no one expected the suspension of shipments to the US Government's Strategic Petroleum Reserve to have much impact on supplies. More importantly, the traders placing the bets expect prices to keep moving higher.

The Age: Fears over state's food security

VICTORIA'S ability to feed itself is threatened by new farming practices and cheap imported fruit and vegetables, warns a major food report commissioned by the State Government.

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The Secure and Sustainable Food Systems for Victoria report said food supply problems were so severe that consumers' access to affordable, healthy diets was jeopardised.

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"If we don't fix what is broke now, then when peak oil and global warming hit, the communities that are already affected will be in a much worse state."

TVNZ: National won't support emissions bill

He says National will not support the ETS unless it is fiscally neutral and closely aligned with that being put forward by the Australian government later this year.

He says the party is also opposing the Biofuels Bill until it has a sustainability standard, arguing that the current proposal is flawed.

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Labour is likely to get support from United Future and New Zealand First but the Green Party is frustrated over the deferment of the transport component of the scheme. The Greens believe it is no time to back down on petrol charges, particularly with traffic-choked roads.

Re: Fears over state's food security

As in most aspects of the multiple crises we either face now, or will face in the foreseeable future, there is the constant call for products or services to be both available and high quality, but also the expectation (or demand) that it be affordable, cheap, or in fact, free. Presumably, if we paid a higher price for fruit, vegetables, grains, meat, etc, then there would be incentive for Victorian farmers to invest in the production of them. There is in fact an underlying expectation that governments and their agencies can and should "do something", and really, a fairly confusing call for a command economy response in a capitalist mode of production.

This is in addition to the challenges (not specific to Victoria) of water, rainfall, soil degradation, salinity, cost of inputs (fuel, fertiliser, pesticide, seed), and so on.

Everyone wants to go to heaven but no-one wants to die, it seems.

FUEL rationing may be one in a series of shocks facing drivers and commuters in Queensland. Looming oil shortages would produce the biggest change in society since the industrial revolution, Sustainability Minister Andrew McNamara warned yesterday.

If Andrew McNamara wants to do something to prevent future oil shortages then he should get rid of the idiotic Queensland Fuel Subsidy Scheme. The thing is, he can't, everyone knows he can't. It would be political suicide at the moment.

McNamara is possably the only pollie in Australia who actually gets it!