By
EWAN KENNEDY
8 October 2007
The attitude of most political parties towards the price of petrol
is really starting to concern me. Though all profess to care about the
problems being caused by global warming, their number one priority is
always going to be getting elected. And if fighting climate change
stands in the way of that – then tough luck…
Our fuel prices are amongst the lowest in the developed
world. Yes, that’s right, the lowest. In some European countries fuel
costs double what it does in Australia. So the Europeans favour smaller,
more economical cars, and have done so, arguably under the duress of
high fuel taxes, for many decades.
Australian cars are currently the largest in the world,
with all that means in the way of high fuel usage and production of
carbon dioxide. OK, so the Americans often drive small trucks, which are
even bigger and more polluting than our cars, but the fact remains that
we Australians create emissions out of all proportion to our population.
Which makes us, on a per capita basis, the world’s
worst polluters. Something I find extremely embarrassing.
Yet we find the people running the Family First party
saying they will cut fuel prices at the bowser by 10 cents per litre.
Ostensibly to trim inflation, which is hardly a problem at the moment,
and therefore make life easier on families.
All very worthwhile, but if years down the track our
grandchildren are living on a ruined planet created by us saving money
on fuel so we could afford larger cars, bigger energy-guzzling plasma
TVs and houses that are 50 per cent larger than they need to be, they
aren't going to be impressed by the legacy we have left them.
Which brings up another curious anomaly. The very same
people who are outraged at being asked to pay $1.30 per litre of petrol
are happily paying twice as much to buy a litre of water from a shop.
When water is available, clean, clear and healthy, for next to nothing
from that tap over the kitchen sink.
Having paid an outlandish price for their stylish
bottled water, consumers are then given Dinkum Diskount Dokets so that
they can save a few cents on their next petrol purchase. Has the world
gone mad, or is it just me?
There is ample evidence that charging more for fuel
prods people in the right direction. The direction where they buy the
car that suits their needs, not one that’s a couple of sizes too large
to help them massage their ego.
So long as our politicians are able to string voters
along by promising petrol price inquiries, fuel tax reductions and other
ways to keep petrol costs down we are on the wrong track.
Rising petrol prices have upset the voters and any
politician who dares to say that fuel prices should be increased to push
motorists in the direction of fuel efficient cars could soon be nothing
but a fascinating footnote in Australian political history.
Or is this necessarily true in these times of real
awareness of what's happening to our planet?
How about it you guys in charge of the major political
parties? Does anyone want to tackle the problem head on and trust to the
common sense of the voters to put you in a position to help save the
planet?
ewan@marque.com.au
