From Mrs

7th Dec 2006 - Redlands Shire Council consults with the experts back to the top

24th Nov 2006 - World expert adds his voice to the need for local planning back to the top

International oil expert Dr. Colin Campbell was recently hi-lited by the ABC's "4 Corner" in relation to global oil depletion, HERE - and he's also consulted by World governments (including Australia), and the IEA on the issue. On the 24th November 2006, he emailed local Beaudesert Shire mum Kim Bax about the absolute necessity for local planning for oil depletion, HERE

24th Nov 2006, a reminder to Beaudesert Shire Council about local planning for oil depletion

As must be very clear to you by now, I'm not satisfied with your responsiveness on this core issue. I gave a presentation to you on re this subject on the 12th September 2006 (including a very clear and comprehensive printed handout), emailed you on the 14th September 2006, re your plans around this issue - and then sent a reminder over a calendar month later, when I'd still received no response. However, this missive of mine on the 22nd November 2006 prompted an email from my own local councillor Dave Cockburn, on the same day, which said (in a nutshell), existing planning processes have it all covered. My further email of that day to council CEO Alastair Dawson, explains very clearly why this is not the case.

And this email to me from World expert Dr. Colin Campbell (24th November 2006), who is consulted by Governments (including Australia), and the International Energy Agency re oil depletion, only underlines my point. I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

24th Nov 2006, a reminder to State Government about helping local Government's plan for oil depletion back to the top

I'm still looking forward to hearing from you re State Government help for local councils, re planning for oil depletion - especially in the light of international oil expert Dr Colin Campbell's email to me of the 24th November 2006, HERE

I'd remind you that I last heard from you on the 24th October 2006, now a month ago. I replied the next day, with some very salient points. There's been silence since. These are urgent issues. I look forward to hearing from you ASAP.

23rd Nov 2006, letter received from Kay Elson, Federal Member for Forde, re Federal Government help for local peak oil planning, PLUS the reply from Kim Bax back to the top

Thankyou for your recent emails concerning local planning for peak oil in Beaudesert Shire, oil depletion and Beaudesert Shire press releases. I appreciate you taking the time to bring your thoughts and views to my attention.

In relation to your question regarding the response from the Hon Ian Macfarlane, Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, I have been in contact with his office and have been advised that a response is still being prepared and we should receive it in the next couple of weeks. I will be in touch as soon as I receive the response.

I have carefully noted your comments and views on all other issues and will be sure to share them with my colleagues in Canberra during our next party meeting.

Kim, once again, thankyou for keeping me up to date with your activities and as always, if I can be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact me.

I look forward to hearing from Ian McFarlane as promised. Could you please make sure his response reflects the information supplied to me by international oil expert, Dr. Colin Campbell, here.

8th Nov 2006 "Letter to the Editor" in the Jimboomba Times, "Do it for The Children" (very top r. hand corner of page 48, the first "Letters" page) back to the top

"Kids the same age as mine are dying in Iraq, in a war "Not for oil," while China and the US compete for remaining World reserves. Crude's a finite resource, and we've reached the top of the curve. We're not "Running out," just getting less each day, instead of more. Planetary rules aren't negotiable. Our choices? A bloody battle of "Last man standing," or a civilised acceptance of the inevitable. That's what the international "Oil Depletion Protocol" is about, and there's a push for Queensland to add it's voice to this global call for sanity. You can find your way to the Parliamentary petition at
www.relocalize.net/groups/queensland Do it for our children" Kim Bax, Jimboomba back to the top

24th Oct 2006 - reply from Premier Peter Beattie about local planning for Peak Oil, plus the further response from Kim Bax back to the top

24th Oct 06 - Reminder to Federal Member (for Forde), Kay Elson, about Federal Government help for local Peak Oil planning back to the top

Over a month ago now, on the 18th October 2006, I wrote to you about Federal Government help for local Peak Oil planning, here:-

PS - As you're aware, I'm circulating this correspondence to most of Queensland's local councillors. Here's the pithy response of one rural local councillor to the Federal Government's largesse to the oil companies (at a time of record profits):-

24th Oct 06 - Reminder to Beaudesert Shire councillors Dave, Bob & Vanessa about local Peak Oil planning back to the top

Over a month ago now, on the 14th October 2006, I wrote to you about local Government planning initiatives for Peak Oil, here:-

24th Oct 06 - Reminder to Premier Peter Beattie & State Member (for Hervey Bay), Andrew McNamara about State Government help for local Peak Oil planning back to the top

Over a month ago now, on the 14th October 2006, I wrote to you about State Government help for local Peak Oil planning, here:-

11th Oct 06, reply from Senator Christine Milne, re planning for oil depletion back to the top

www.christinemilne.org.au

Senator Christine Milne's speech

Proposed energy inquiry by Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee
20 June 2006

Senator Milne (Tasmania) (5.56 p.m.)

I regret that the government has not even had the courtesy to indicate why it intends to vote against this reference. I regard this as a strategically critical issue for Australia.

Those senators who have been aware of my involvement in putting the oil inquiry to the Senate and getting the government to agree to it and then in the conduct of that inquiry will know that the inquiry has been extremely strategic in what it is doing. It attracted more than 150 submissions. Out of that inquiry we will start to get some real understanding of Australia’s future oil supply needs.

Even today we have had figures come out that show the appalling shift in Australia importing of oil and our failure to have a strategy to move rapidly toward the reduction in transport fuels, the reduction of imported oils and the expansion of biofuels, alternative energies and so on.

My thinking here is not party political; it is strategic. I am trying to say that we have to stop ad hoc policies and we have to start having integrated policies that look at an industry policy, an employment policy, an energy policy and an environment policy that come together. Climate change is the most critical security issue. It is the biggest threat to our way of life.

I said on budget night that the government has completely missed the main game in refusing to address either climate change or oil depletion in its budget. They are the two biggest issues facing Australia, and the government completely avoided them—they were not even noted in the budget.

It is interesting that the budget has disappeared without a trace and the issues that are on the agenda right now are energy and oil. Pick up any newspaper, and you will see issues of energy security, climate change, sustainable energy sources into the future, oil depletion and associated costs, city planning, congestion and the need for investment in public transport.

We are getting a knee-jerk reaction to all of those issues. This country needs to ask itself this fundamental question: what does Australia consider to be dangerous, anthropogenic climate change? That is first question this country has to answer. If the answer to that is 1½ or two degrees, which is what the scientists are telling us that we are facing, then we have to put in place the strategies that not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but, hopefully, generate jobs and a better quality of life for people in Australia.

That requires extensive planning and thinking about the way our cities operate. It requires moving people onto public transport. It requires energy efficiency targets. We need to improve people’s health through increased access to bicycle ways, walkways et cetera in cities. We need all of those kinds of things.

We also need to look at the fact that we are losing jobs overseas. We have had Roaring 40s say that they are going to have to invest in China and other overseas places. Why? Because China has a 15 per cent renewable energy target and Australia does not have one. Roaring 40s have gone to China and will do no further development in Australia. Let me take another example: Novera Energy, which does waste to energy and landfill gas, moved to the UK. Seapower Pacific, which was looking at tidal power, has gone overseas. Let me give you another example: Dr Shi, Australia’s solar billionaire, is investing in China and making money and jobs in China, not in Australia.

Then we go to ANU sliver cell technology. They have a technology that reduces the cost of solar by 75 per cent. That is a mega breakthrough. We should be:

1 commercialising that and running it out all over Australia. We do not need nuclear power. The point of setting up a committee with these terms of reference was to look at sustainable and secure energy supplies. There is nothing more sustainable than the sun. It is the sustainable energy supply for this planet, and Australia is blessed with the nature of its solar resource. We have a secure and sustainable energy option for this country if we were to go with renewables, but we need a much more comprehensive energy policy.

Senator O’Brien said a moment ago that Labor would not tolerate energy intensive industries being driven offshore to places with lower standards. What he may not realise is that there are very few places with lower standards. We are getting to the point of having some of the lowest standards in the world.

China, for example, has now set fuel efficiency standards for its vehicles that Australian cars would not meet. So it is no use signing an Australia-China trade agreement and expecting that we might be able to export cars to China, because our fuel efficiency standards are not as high as theirs. They are moving rapidly, as are most other countries in the world. What we have to do is set high standards and expect our industries to meet them.

That is why I have moved this motion. We need to not only require Australia’s energy intensive industries to have a mandatory audit of energy efficiency opportunities but require them to implement the findings of that audit provided there is a payback period of one to two years. That is not very great—that is a very easy step for them to take. I put that point of view with regard to accelerated depreciation.

That is why I am saying that there needs to be an integrated industry, energy, employment and environment strategy. We need to look at all those things and ask: what is the energy mix that will be sustainable into the longer term, that will give us energy security, that will create the most jobs in Australia and that will be ecologically sustainable? If you ask those questions, you will start to get a reasonable mix. By setting higher standards, you get innovation and technology improvement, and then you will get greater opportunities in the manufacturing sector and more high-range jobs in the R&D sector and in universities. The whole thing breeds of itself.

That is why I have said previously that we should regard our coal and uranium resources as competitive disadvantages: because they blind us to the opportunities that could be generated by setting a strategic industry policy and asking, ‘Where will Australia’s competitive advantage be in the 21st century in a carbon constrained world?’ Let us develop an energy and transport policy mix—an industry mix—that addresses all of those things. That is what I was seeking to do with this inquiry.

We need to have the debate first about what we consider to be dangerous anthropogenic climate change. When we answer that question, we must ask how we are going to pay for the changes that are necessary and set up the relevant regulatory frameworks and incentives to make that happen. Then we have to ask how we are going to address that challenge locally, regionally, nationally and globally in terms of Asia-Pacific and overseas trade. That is the kind of strategic thinking that we need to be doing.

It is no use for the minister to stand up time and time again and say, ‘By 2050, we need a 60 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases,’ when there is no strategy for achieving that. Yes, there are various initiatives. There is the Solar Cities program, for example. But at the same time the rebate for solar hot water has been taken away. There is no comprehensive, integrated strategy.

2 The government, in observing the work that I and Senator Siewert—who chaired that committee—have done with the oil inquiry, would recognise that we have been dedicated to the task of trying, without politicking, to get some strategic thinking and planning happening with regard to the issues of transport fuels, sustainability, jobs growth and innovation in Australia.

That is what I was asking for from the government with this proposal: a Senate inquiry looking at energy efficiency and the capacity for demand side reduction in Australia, along with how we can meet our energy needs into the future—the supply side. It would also look at what the costs are and what the target is that we are trying to meet. We are going to end up at next year’s Australian federal election with the Australian people not knowing what the challenge ahead of us is in terms of greenhouse gas reductions—they are simply not going to know.

The tragedy is that some scientists are saying that it is already too late and that we cannot mitigate dangerous climate change but are now going to have to adapt to it. Others are saying that we have 15 years. That is why I have no patience with the nuclear debate. Nuclear, if used for electricity—which only represents 39 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions anyway—would not come on stream for 10 to 15 years, and that is too late. We need action tomorrow, but there is no point in taking action unless you have a strategic plan and an integrated mix of policies.

Climate change should have made every legislator—every parliamentarian—recognise that the environment is not just a side issue; it is an everyday issue.

It is about the quality of life of Australians. It is about Australia’s coastal regions potentially being flooded through extreme storm events or sea level rise. We have extreme droughts. We have all sorts of problems coming down the line in the aquaculture industry because of warming waters, and with the natural fisheries industry because of overfishing and changed patterns in where fish are because of changed ocean currents. We have a slowing down of the global ocean conveyor. We have acidification of the Southern Ocean. We already have disease in Australia, with more people dying because of heat related stress. We have the potential for alien invasive species changing their habitat range because of climate change.

In Orange last year, we had for 10 days temperatures of over 45 degrees and they had to evacuate the nursing home. We have infrastructure that cannot cope in the changed circumstances. We have huge challenges. We have Queensland assessing its schools to see if they all need airconditioning, because it is too hot now for students to be at school and that means a huge energy requirement. If you are going to put airconditioning in those schools, you need to link it with an energy source. In South Australia we have the Roxby Downs uranium mine, which needs a desalination plant. How are they going to fuel that? There is the potential to use geothermal, but they could just use gas or coal.

These are the kinds of strategic issues Australia has to face. I am really sorry that the government has, once again, failed to grasp the opportunity to have the Senate work as it should—that is, to come together, cross-party, to look at the strategic issues facing Australia and to try to come up with ways of addressing them. Let me tell you that out there in the community people are prepared to make changes because of climate change.

The community is way ahead of the government on this whole issue of energy, climate, innovation, environment, and future strategy and policy. That is why I think Australia needs an integrated industry and energy policy that will take us into the 21st century in a sustainable way and in a way that allows for human potential in Australia to be adequately achieved, instead of a way that sees people leaving the country because innovation is occurring offshore. Germany and Japan have built a solar industry. China is moving rapidly towards renewables. We are seeing it all over the world, except here in Australia.

I recognise that the government is going to vote this motion down. I still do not understand why the opposition is going to vote against this inquiry. I understand that at the whips meeting yesterday it was made clear that we were going to debate this today, so I cannot understand how that message did not get to Senator O’Brien but apparently it did not. However, this is an attempt to deal with greenhouse gas emissions in a logical and strategic way. It is an attempt to ask the big picture questions and then start to address the integrated mix of employment, industry, ecology and energy into the future.

That is not something that we are currently seeing. It is regrettable that the government will not even stand up and explain itself. The government has no industry policy and no energy policy for Australia. It has no employment policy for Australia, and it most certainly does not have a climate change or integrated environment policy for Australia which recognises the great threat of climate change.

We have Al Gore with his film An Inconvenient Truth making a huge impact in the United States and, hopefully, around the world. We are seeing big business shifting. Australian business is begging the government for a carbon signal—to put a price on carbon, to go with an emissions trading system, to look at a carbon tax for transport fuels, in particular, and to look at the mix you might get with those regulatory frameworks and incentives. But the government is turning its back. It seems only interested in digging holes in the ground—that is the industry sector that the government seems intent on staying with. It is a 1788 policy. It is sheep’s back, holes in the ground, quarry policy.

We need a sophisticated energy, industry, environment and employment policy, and that is what the Greens are asking for with this inquiry. It is tragic to see that we are not going to get the support for it, and there is no alternative in place. Neither the government nor the opposition have any propositions in place to have this issue addressed. When people look back on this period of government, they are going to see Australia’s failure to recognise that the world had shifted to carbon constraint and that that offered threats and opportunities for Australia. But Australia has completely neglected the opportunities. It has said that it was too hard and that it would do its old industry friends at the big end of town out of business.

The response was not to challenge that, which is a false assumption, but to go with it and leave Australia vulnerable, leave our economy vulnerable and not resilient, and leave our community extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. We have to accept the fact that, when we were asked to rise to the occasion in terms of global responsibility for dealing with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, Australia did not have a government in power that was intelligent enough to absorb the extent of the challenge that faces this country right now. I regret the responses from the other parties. I appreciate the fact that the Democrats are supporting this inquiry, and I would ask people to reconsider as the vote is taken.

back to the top

4th Oct 2006 - Local comment in The Jimboomba Times, "Petrol Price Effects" back to the top

"This week the Jimboomba Times asked shoppers whether high petrol prices would influence school holiday activities. Here is what they had to say:

Greg, Loganlea (pictured with his grandson) - 'Yes, they would. His mum spends much more to take him to school and other activities. We also don't come over to visit him (grandson) as often as we used to.'

Cathy, Cedar Grove - 'High petrol prices influence everyday cost of living, so it's a lot harder to go away on holidays now. You end up coming home to the bills.'

Julie, Cedar Grove - 'Yes, high petrol prices affect us. It would be lovely if they were lower, we could do a lot more.'

Monica, Cedar Vale - 'The high prices do affect me. I get my kids during the school holidays, so I have to travel a fair bit to drop and pick them up.'

Guy, Jimboomba - 'We're not going camping this holiday because of the fuel prices. We normally try and get away but we won't this time. It is also really impacting on the scout camps too.'

Selena, Boronia Heights - 'No, I go where I need or want to go and maybe something else will be cut.'

4th Oct 2006 - Jimboomba Times article, "High Fuel Costs Hit Local Groups" back to the top

"High fuel costs are increasingly impacting on the range of school holiday and recreational activities available to the local community.

Logan Village scouts group leader Ray Fletcher said said they had been focusing on more local camping sites when going away on camps.

'We try to get out as much as we can and when we do, it's a lot closer to home than before the price rises' he said.

Mr. Fletcher said while fuel prices were having an impact on activities, Logan Village Scouts had been slowly growing.

High fuel prices have also affected members of the Jimboomba Pony Club. Vice President Neil Hando said high fuel costs affected anyone with animals, as feed and transportation of animals increased.

'It's costing more more for people to simply come and compete, and entrants have dropped back a bit.' he said. 'There's really not much the club can do about it."

Jimboomba Soccer Club vice president David Taylor said teams and players were car pooling more and scheduling buses to deal with the increased costs.

'The furthest we have to go is Redland Bay and adults have to travel to the north of Brisbane quite a bit, which is a good hike,' he said. 'So I'm sure a few families are affected.'

Two months ago The Jimboomba Times interviewed Griffiths University Urban Research Programme research fellow Dr. Jago Dodson, who presented information to a senate inquiry committee.

He said the northern Beaudesert Shire region was an area particularly likely to be affected by high fuel prices. 'You would expect the area to be relatively more affected than Brisbane suburbs,' Dr. Dodson said. 'For people to have employment and services they are going to have to get in their car. They will increasingly have to make decisions what trip is necessary and what isn't and the less essential ones will be cut out.'

'This means there will be less driving out to visit friends, less entertainment and journeys to work and to buy food would be the last things people would stop doing.'

Dr. Dodson said the post-war period of the private motor car gave households and individuals the capacity to travel almost anywhere at will within the city, and that enabled areas like the north of the Beaudesert shire to develop."

18th Sept 2006 - reply from Kay Elson, Federal Member for Forde (Liberal), in relation to local Peak Oil planning - Plus the response to this from Kim Bax back to the top

Please find enclosed a letter I have received from the Hon. Gary Hardgrave, Minister for Vocational and Technical Education and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister in response to representations I made on your behalf concerning global oil supplies.

I also thank you for you recent emails concerning local planning for peak oil in Beaudesert Shire. I commend you in your dedication and persistence to this cause.

I have written to the Hon. Ian McFarlane, Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources asking him to advise if he is able to offer any advice or assistance to local planning initiatives.

I will be in touch as soon as I receive a response from the Minister. In the meantime, as always, if I can be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Thankyou very much for the above. Your swift response and kind words are very much appreciated.

I look forward to hearing more from you (as promised), re assistance for local councils to cope with local planning for oil depletion - and taking into consideration the many millions the Government is currently throwing at the oil companies, I quote:-

15th Aug 2006 - "AUSTRALIA'S oil exploration and production industry cannot believe its luck. Despite record oil prices and record profitability, the Federal Government will pump $135 million into a data collection and research effort aimed at spurring the hunt for new oilfields." Original article in "The Age." Link here

. . . I assume there's going to be some pork left in the barrel for local councils around Australia to cope with this inevitable and imminent local planning? And in relation to that, here's a truly shattering quote (July 2006), from international oil expert Dr. Samsam Bakhtiari (who also projects a 32% drop in global oil production by 2020), followed by Senator Barnaby Joyce's reply :-

Senate Enquiry, Sydney, July 2006 - Dr Samsam Bakhtiari - “Thus in the face of peak oil and its multiple consequences, which are bound to impact upon almost all aspects of our human standards of life, it seems imperative to get prepared to face all the inevitable shockwaves resulting from that. Preparation should be carried out on individual, familial, societal and national levels as soon as possible. Every preparative step taken today will prove far cheaper than any step taken tomorrow. I thank you for your attention during my opening statement, and I am ready now to try, to the best of my abilities, to reply to any questions that you have.”

Senator Barnaby Joyce - “Thank you very much, Mr Samsam Bakhtiari. I have been a follower of you for a while; I have been one of your quiet fans."

And in relation to the letter you mention (from Gary Hardgrave MP, which I've reproduced below), I have passed it to Bruce Robinson, convenor of ASPO Australia, for his formal and professional comment. I'll let you (and Mr. Hardgrave), know further about that when I get a response - which I'll also publish here. However, I have three quick comments of my own:

"Engineers Australia believes the Government’s policy on the use of petroleum fuels in transport is insufficient for the circumstances confronting Australia and belongs to an era in which oil supplies were more bountiful, security of supply was more clear cut and base prices were cheap. There are sound reasons which suggest that these caveats no longer apply and that Australia’s continuing high dependency on petroleum fuels for transport poses increasing risks inconsistent with prudent risk management and government."

3. Several of the paragraphs in Mr. Hardgraves new letter to me are verbatim transcripts of a letter (on the same subject), sent to me on the 24th February 2006 by Ian McFarlane MP. Here's a critique I did of that at the time (with the original letter alongside) - and I also sent my reply to Mr. McFarlane. Clearly, as the same assertions are being repeated, talking to Government is like talking to a brick wall at times. And as the highly popular UK comedy series "Yes Minister" showed, that's not a trait confined to any one political party. However, with the future of our kids and grandkids at stake, the Australian people deserve a great deal more.

cc - Federal politicians, Qld cc - Senator Christine Milne cc - State politicians, Qld cc - local councillors, Qld cc - The Jimboomba Times cc - The Beaudesert Times cc - ABC, "Four Corners" cc - Channel 9, "60 Minutes" cc - Heidi Rexa, journalist ABC "State Line" (Qld) cc - The Northern Beaudesert Shire Action Group cc - The Logan & Albert Conservation Assoc. cc - The Ethos Centre, Binna Burra cc - Quest 2025 for a Sustainable SE Qld, email list

18th Sept 2006 - reply from Gary Hardgrave MP (Liberal), Minister for Vocational & Technical Education - Plus the response from Kim Bax back to the top

Thankyou for your letter of 17 August 2006 to the Prime Minister regarding correspondence from your constituent Mrs. Kim Bax of 77 Orion Road, Cedar Vale Qld 4285 regarding global oil supplies. The Prime Minister has asked me to reply on his behalf.

The government is aware of the importance of liquid fuels to the Australian economy, and has put in place a range of policies aimed at strengthening the capacity of the economy to adapt to, and benefit from, changes in the world energy market. The government undertook a comprehensive review of energy policies and developed a framework to secure Australia's long term energy future that is articulated in the policy white paper Securing Our Energy Future, which introduced initiatives to diversify and expand the nation's energy resource base.

To improve the development of domestic petroleum reserves, the Australian Government has introduced a range of measures, including acreage release and tax benefits designed to encourage additional exploration for oil and gas resources, especially in frontier areas.

Australia

’s extensive reserves of natural gas are particularly important given the adaptability of this fuel in stationary energy markets and as a potential alternative to petroleum in transport application. Similarly our deposits of coal, both black and brown, offer great potential for conversion to transport fuels such as diesel and hydrogen.

The Government is also committed to regularly monitoring and evaluating the energy situation; to improve the transparency and efficient operation of energy markets; and to promoting the development and application of a broad range of indigenous energy resources and advanced energy technologies.

One specific policy initiative outlined in the white paper is the biennial review of the national energy security outlook. The review provides the Government with an up to date picture with the resilience of the energy sector, industry’s capacity to respond to temporary disruptions that would impact on energy security, and the adequacy of current policy arrangements, including those involving access to international supplies.

In addition, assessments of the longer term outlook for energy, including liquid fuels, are informed by analysis by the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics (ABARE), the Australian Government’s Department of the Treasury, and global assessments by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Through its membership of the IEA and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Energy Working Group (APEC EWG),

Australia

is involved in collective action to respond to major oil shortages or disruptions and to develop policies to improve the functioning of global energy markets.

Support for renewable energy technologies is also helping to diversify the available energy mix. Following a recent report by the Bio-Fuels Taskforce, for example, the Government reaffirmed the 350 million litres (ML) biofuels target and agreed to facilitate a Biofuels Industry Action Plan. Aggregate projections in the Action Plan show that the ethanol industry expects to exceed to 350 ML target by 2010, underlining stakeholder optimism about the future.

With hydrogen having the potential to play a role in

Australia

’s long term energy supply, the Government is engaged both domestically and internationally in hydrogen related R & D programmes. Participation in collaborative arrangements such as the International Partnership on the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE) and the IEA Hydrogen Implementing Agreement enables

Australia

to have a say in determining the development and adoption of appropriate codes and standards for hydrogen.

The Government is also introducing measures to improve energy efficiency as a means of reducing our overall energy needs through initiatives aimed at lowering demand for oil in the transport sector, including a demand management programme designed to reduce reliance on cars and encourage people to make a more informed choice about other forms of transport.

The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee is currently holding an enquiry into Australia's future oil supply and alternative transport fuels. The Committee is examining issues as:

The Committee is due to report to Parliament on 19 October 2006. Copies of submissions to the inquiry and transcripts of public hearings are available at:

An update to the 2004 energy white paper listing progress on on energy related reforms and initiatives is available at:

On 14 August 2006, the Prime Minister made a statement to Parliament on energy initiatives and announced a number of new measures. The measures aim to further encourage investment in alternative transport fuels and renewable energy as well as providing additional support for offshore and onshore oil exploration.

In conclusion, the government has a broadly based strategy to improve the operation of our energy markets and to diversify our energy mix, so that Australia is well prepared to deal with the changing dynamics of global oil supplies.

Rather than repeating myself, please refer to my reply (above), to Kay Elson MP.

14th Sept 2006 - feedback on my "Peak Oil" presentation to council, on 12th Sept 2006 back to the top

Well, everyone listened politely and intently, and no-one contradicted me. And I was pleasantly surprised to find that council had taken the time and trouble to reproduce and distribute the "Word" document I'd emailed them. I didn't read-out my info, just referred to key points to jog my memory - and then spoke spontaneously.

In a nutshell, I gave them the basic science of "Peak Oil," explained that this wasn't just a "Left wing" or "Greenie" issue - and then talked about alternative energies and the concept of "Energy Return on Energy Invested." Lastly, I talked about the Cuba experience and the planning initiatives of The City of Portland, Oregon, USA.

After I'd finished, there was also some interest - with some councillors and Mayor Joy Drescher coming up to speak to me. I got the impression Joy thought it was an apoplectic vision that we couldn't do much about anyway, so we shouldn't spend time worrying about it. I explained that what made the difference between inevitable change and complete and utter disaster was planning.

My own local councillor Dave Cockburn suggested that I could speak to the local chambers of commerce - and I was also very gratified by the interest and comments of Councillor Bob Bricknell, and Councillor Vanessa Bull All three were obviously moved by - and very interested in - the information I'd given them.

So what now? I've emailed Dave, Bob and Vanessa about meeting them together at Council chambers - hopefully with new CEO Alastair Dawson there too. I might know the ins and outs of Peak Oil, but council procedures are a complete mystery to me. I want to discuss the practicalities of moving a "Peak Oil" resolution, and convening a Peak Oil planning task force.

"2.16 Peak oil proponents have criticised official estimates of future oil supply with detailed and plausible arguments. The Committee is not aware of any official agency publications which attempt to rebut the peak oil arguments point by point in similar detail.

2.17 In the Committee.s view the possibility of a peak of conventional oil production before 2030, even if it is no more than a possibility, should be a matter of concern. Exactly when it occurs (which is very uncertain) is not the important point. Australia should be planning for it now, as Sweden is doing with its plan to be oil free by 2020."

I've also emailed the initiator of that committee, Christine Milne, about Federal support for local planning moves of the type I'm proposing - as well as our local Federal member, Kay Elson. Their replies will be posted here.

Continuing in this vein, the Queensland State Government has also been involved in an investigation into "Peak Oil," via its recent "Oil Vulnerability Task Force." This was chaired by ALP State Member for Hervey Bay, Andrew McNamara - and as this key quote from Andrew shows, locally based initiatives are crucial to our future (emphasis added):-

" . . . it will be my recommendation that the report be put on the internet, and tabled in Parliament, and made widely available. My preference here is that we need a global response, and we need a national response, and then we need state and provincial responses, and then we need local, very much local responses, and sharing information is the best way to do that. Nobody's got time to reinvent the wheel.

If there's good works being done by governments anywhere then we need to all be taking notes on that and moving quickly. We have, I think, a very tight timeframe. Australia is already in serious oil production decline. There is, I think, at most ten years before we are looking at global production decline.

We have, I think, a ten year window where we've got some options to engage in vigorous local policy activity we can give ourselves a window of opportunity to deal, or get ready for, the severe bump when OPEC passes its production peak, but ten years is a pretty short timeframe to change the way we grow and deliver food, the way we design and build our homes and cities, the way we move ourselves and everything else in our societies around, and I think it will be the Great Challenge for our global civilization, how we confront this ten year opportunity."

Thus I've emailed Andrew McNamara & Peter Beattie (Premier), about State support for locally based planning initiatives of the type I'm calling for. Again, their responses will be posted here.

14th Sept 2006 - email to Councillors Dave, Bob and Vanessa (and CEO Alastair Dawson), re Peak Oil planning:- back to the top

Thankyou so much for your support and interest in my recent Peak Oil presentation to council (12th Sept 2006). You can read my account of it here:-

At your convenience, I'd like to get together with you at Council chambers, to talk about the practicalities of council adopting a Peak Oil resolution, and convening a Peak Oil task force. I may know a lot about Peak Oil, but next to nothing about the formalities of council procedures. Thus, by sharing our respective expertise, we can ensure that our kids are not engulfed this tsunami of inevitable change. We have an absolute responsibility for their future.

And if you check out the above link, you'll also see that I have written to both Federal & State levels, re support for local planning initiatives.

And Dave, I'm more than willing to speak to our local chambers of commerce on this subject (as you suggested). You're welcome to slot me at ASAP. Just let me know, I'll fit in with what's convenient.

14th September 2006 - Email to Senator Christine Milne & local Federal Member Kay Elson about support for local Peak Oil planning:- back to the top

You can read about local efforts in Beaudesert Shire to plan for Peak Oil here:-

Would you please take special note of events & emails dated 14th Sept 2006, and chronicled via links in the right hand column.

What practical support can Federal Government provide to these mooted local planning initiatives? Both in terms of suitable programmes that may already be in existence, and in terms of future programmes?

Best wishes, Kim (Christine Milne's 11 Oct 2006 reply is here) back to the top

14th Sept 2006 - Email to State Member Andrew McNamara & Premier Peter Beattie about support for local Peak Oil planning:-

You can read about local efforts in Beaudesert Shire to plan for Peak Oil here:-

Would you please take special note of events & emails dated 14th Sept 2006, and chronicled via links in the right hand column.

6 Sept 2006 - Letter in "The Jimboomba Times" & "The Beaudesert Times" from local resident Kim Bax, announcing 12 Sept 2006 Beaudesert Shire Council Peak Oil presentation - "Peak Oil Will Affect Us All" back to the top

"With petrol an interest rates climbing, I'm talking to councillors, council officers and local people about global oil depletion on Tues 12 Sept, at 11am at Beaudesert Shire Council Chambers, Beaudesert.

International oil expert Dr. Samsam Bakhtiari recently told Senator Barnaby Joyce (and others), that World crude output will drop 32% by 2020, and added "Thus in the face of peak oil and its multiple consequences, which are bound to impact upon almost all aspects of our human standards of life, it seems imperative to get prepared to face all the inevitable shockwaves resulting from that. Preparation should be carried out on individual, familial, societal and national levels as soon as possible. Every preparative step taken today will prove far cheaper than any step taken tomorrow."

And that's the spirit of my talk. For those that can't be there, or just want more info, you can check out www.kimspages.org/oil.htm for a chronicle of local news on this subject." Kim Bax, Cedar Vale back to the top

4 Sept 2006 - 5 page "Word" document on Peak Oil (by Kim Bax), to be printed & given out to Beaudesert Shire councillors & officers on the 12 Sept 2006 back to the top

This document is designed for people who haven't come across Peak Oil before, or only vaguely. There's probably a lot more info that could have been included, but it's brief and easily digestible.

Local councillor Debra Henry (from Redlands Shire, Queensland ), has already tabled and presented it (along with her own documentation), to her local council. And Barry Earsman (Maleny, Queensland), has already used the it at a public screening he arranged of a DVD about Peak Oil.

There's a lot of white space & pics (easy on the eye & brain), plus recent key quotes from high profile figures like Bill Clinton, Alan Greenspan & Senator Barnaby Joyce. Key facts and solutions are accessible and simple. Email me HERE to get a copy, free of charge. back to the top

30 Aug 2006 - Letter in "The Jimboomba Times" from local resident Scott Morwitch on Peak Oil - "Further Argument on Area" back to the top

"There is a further argument rising against the placement of an industrial area in North Maclean. Research tells us that the point of "peak oil" production is here or will arrive very shortly. The peak oil discussion argues locally that the North Maclean enterprise precinct is not viable.

There is no population centre close enough to feed it with labour without causing significant numbers of private vehicle journeys. What happens to the industrial area when fuel prices hit $3 a litre or more and nobody travels? Given that we as a society are "wielded" to our individual vehicle journeys, it is my opinion that the enterprise precincts already contained in proposed urban footprint areas should be expanded to shorten or eliminate these journeys and facilitate efficient public transport, instead of perching an industrial area in the middle of nowhere.

I still have not heard any valid town planning arguments from those in Beaudesert Shire Council who support this ill conceived industrial area. Many residents have brought forth reasoned arguments against this occlusion of logic but it appears the supporting Beaudesert Shire Councillors wish to put it there no matter what residents say. Democracy in action? Democracy inaction is, I think, most likely." Scott Morwitch, Munruben. back to the top

11 Aug 2006, part of a letter from Beaudesert Shire CEO Alastair Dawson confirming council Peak Oil presentation AND the reply from Kim Bax back to the top

"Council has granted your request and arrangements have been made for you to give your presentation at the Council Community Forum to be held on Tuesday 12th September, 2006, at the Beaudesert Shire Council Chambers, commencing at 11am. You will be permitted to speak for 10 minutes in relation to fuel depletion and what you believe the Shire should be doing about it. Yours faithfully, Alastair Dawson Chief Executive Officer"

Thanks for that Alastair. Much appreciated. I'll certainly be there as planned. In the mean time, as I'm only able to speak for 10 minutes (and this is such a huge subject), there's some pre-requisite reading and viewing.

Yourself - and some of the local councillors - may have read/viewed the material I'm referring to here (as I have sent info in the past), but when you/they peruse this, perhaps you could make a point of familiarising yourselves with anything new, or previously un-read.

If this feels like a burden - in the light of busy schedules - it might help to understand that this is not "Just another issue" amongst many. It is core to any other plans the Council has in mind.

And why (might you ask), hasn't this "Core" issue been trumpeted by our mainstream media? That's a good question, and one others are asking - such as journalist Nathan Paulsen, of the USA local paper, "The Minnesota Daily," in his article of 27 March 2006, Peak oil and failing mass media - and then (perhaps), oil depletion doesn't sell consumer goods, cars and real estate?

As for "What you believe the Shire should be doing about it," while I certainly have ideas and pointers, that responsibility is too large - and inappropriate - for one person. I would hope that after looking at the material I'm putting forward - and after listening to my presentation - councillors and council officers would start to think around these issues for themselves.

It's obvious we have to do something, and that "Something," (by the very nature of the problem), will have to be locally based. Either we initiate our own learning curve and planning - or $2 a litre petrol (and rising), will do it much more unpleasantly for us.

Now, to information resources for councillors and interested parties to digest beforehand:-.

1. As there will not be time for me to give a Power Point Presentation on the 13th September, this one by "PowerSwitch" (a UK NGO dealing with Peak Oil), will be of use to view beforehand. Click here

2. The ABC's "Catalyst" screened a short segment on Peak Oil (24 Nov 2005). Click here to view it. You'll see it heavily features oil expert Jeremy Leggett, so here's a June 2006 quote from ex-USA President Bill Clinton about Jeremy Leggett:-

"Earlier this month at the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies convention in Little Rock Arkansas, the Straight asked former U.S. President Bill Clinton if he thought that Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Kuwait had exaggerated their estimates of proven oil reserves. The Straight also asked Clinton that if this were the case, what were the implications for the North American economy. Here is a transcript of his answer:

Bill Clinton: Did you all hear his question? He said do I believe that the OPEC nations have exaggerated their oil reserves and if so, what are the implications? Well first of all I’m not a petroleum geologist, but I can tell you this. If you read, there’s a book written by a man named Jeremy Leggett who is a petroleum geologist who was so alarmed by what was happening not only in climate change but oil depletion that he went to work for Greenpeace. That’s a pretty good leap. He’s written a book called The Empty Tank, if you want one book that is not as dark as a book called The Long Emergency which is much darker, but really deals with this and attempts to explain the complications of it, I recommend it to you." Quote taken from original article here

3. Here's what first woke me up to "Peak Oil." I received a link from "Information Clearing House," to a 1999 presentation by oil geologist/scientist Dr. Colin Campbell, given to the British House of Commons. Click here to read it. Even a non-scientific klutz like me was able to digest it - and then see the writing on the wall.

4. ALP State Member for Hervey Bay Andrew McNamara is chair of Queensland's (yet to report), "Oil Vulnerability Task Force." Click here to access a key interview he did about it.

5. On the 11th July 2006, Queensland Senator Barnaby Joyce (amongst others), was involved in some crucial questioning of international oil expert Dr. Samsam Bakhtiari. The outcome of of this exchange is absolutely crucial to understanding the enormity of what's facing us. This is essential reading. Click here to access the transcript.

6. It's often felt that "They" will come up with "Something" to replace to replace oil, because "They" have to, don't they? Anything else is unthinkable. What about all the energy we can get from other sources? Unfortunately, that's not completely true - e.g. getting energy from "Other sources" is one thing, replacing the Globe's truly gargantuan feast of energy (from oil & gas), by "Other sources" is an entirely different ball game. University of California Prof Richard Heinberg explains why in his book "The Party's Over." It would be an excellent idea to get and read a copy (Leah from "The Jimboomba Times" has borrowed mine), but failing that, this much shortened PDF booklet version of it (15 pages), is an essential read. Click here to access it.

7. The above gives an over-view of the problem - here are two sites councillors (and other interested parties), should investigate as gateways to problem solving. First, The Post Carbon Institute - second, The Community Solution I would also suggest that Beaudesert Shire has some key Peak Oil planning resources within in its own boundaries, e.g The Gondwana Centre at Binna Burra, and The Ethos Centre at Binna Burra (also see the link to their Aug 2006 newsletter in the right hand column of this page).

8. Lastly, it's useful to look at Peak Oil initiatives that have been taken by other local municipalities. The City of Portland, Oregon, USA (amongst others), has recently passed a Peak Oil Resolution, and begun a Peak Oil Task Force

I hope Beaudesert Shire councillors (and other interested parties), will take the time to digest the above information in the three and a bit weeks before my presentation, on the 13th September 2006. I look forward to meeting you all there.

cc - Beaudesert Shire councillors cc - The Beaudesert Times cc - The Jimboomba Times cc - The Tamborine Times cc - Local schools (Beaudesert Shire) cc - Chambers of Commerce (Beaudesert Shire) cc - The Northern Beaudesert Shire Action Group cc - The Logan & Albert Conservation Assoc cc - The Gondwana Centre cc - The Ethos Centre cc - Federal politicians (Qld) cc - State Politicians (Qld) cc - Local councillors (Qld) cc - The Courier Mail (editor & journalists) cc - Andi Hazelwood, Global Public Media

The Northern Beaudesert Shire region has been mentioned in a Senate Committee inquiry as an area likely to be affected by high fuel prices.

Dr. Dodson said that the postwar period of the private motor car gave households and individuals the capacity to travel almost anywhere at will within the city, and that enabled areas like the north Beaudesert shire are to develop.

“You would expect the area to be relatively more affected than the Brisbane suburbs,” Dr. Dodson said. “For people to have employment and services they are going to have to get in their car.

“They will increasingly have make decisions about what trip is necessary and what isn’t and the less essential ones will be cut out

“This means there will be less driving out to visit friends, less entertainment and journey to work and to buy food would be the last things people would stop doing.”

Dr. Dodson said serious State Government initiatives would be needed to improve public transport in the area and all governments had to really think about the type of infrastructure and sectors to invest in.

Peak oil is a theory that the earth is at the beginning of the end of the oil age, as existing oil reserves are being exhausted with no significant new reserves being discovered.

Cedar Vale activist Kim Bax said a wide-ranging approach was needed in Beaudesert Shire to avert the dangers posed by the ever increasing fuel prices.

She said a great example of a government approach was Portland in America, where local officials have just passed a Peak Oil Resolution and appointed a task force to investigate the effects of a constraint on the supply and price of oil.

“We need to get our act together quickly because time is running out,” she said.

Dr. Dodson said it was important that governments took into consideration the theory of peak oil.

“It is certainly something they should be taking into account in their strategies, if anything because if they don’t, the consequences will be huge,” he said.

Email to all of Beaudesert Shire's local councillors & the CEO, re Peak Oil - Monday 31st July 2006 back to the top

Email to Mr. Alastair Dawson, CEO Beaudesert Shire Council (Friday July 21st 2006), re local planning for oil depletion

You may have seen my letter in "The Jimboomba Times" this week, about Peak Oil - and you may also have seen "4 Corners" on July 10th 2006:-

I became interested in this subject when I received this link (a while ago now), in my daily email news update from "Information Clearing House":-

It's Dr. Colin Campbell's July 1999 address to the British House of Commons. He's a very senior (now retired), oil geologist/scientist. Here's his CV:-

Anyway, it was a jaw dropping experience for me (to read it), and with the aid of "Google," it was easy to research further information (of which there's plethora). I'd like some time to talk to councillors about this problem, at a committee meeting. Some overseas local Governments are taking this issue very seriously, as this info from The City of Portland (Oregon, USA), shows:-

Also Andrew McNamara (ALP State Member for Hervey Bay), has been particularly outspoken on this problem. This radio interview of his may be of interest:-

We are entering the second half of the oil age, with the difficulty being all of our major institutions appear to be denial. Why isn't this head lines? Think of the effect on the markets . . . I'm sure Murdoch has. Nor is it possible to replace oil with "Something else." Of course, there are other sources of energy - but none that can replace the huge innate energy density & massive quantity/use of oil. There are no magic bullets. This book may be of use in understanding those problems (by Richard Heinberg), "The Party's Over":-

He's a professor at The University of California, and he'll be visiting Brisbane next month - and he'll be at The Brisbane Institute. So this local link may be of use (I'm going):-

And I also this this July 2006 report from Griffiths Uni, "Shocking the Suburbs: Urban Location, housing debt and oil vulnerability in the Australian City" is of crucial importance:-

My aim? To get councillors thinking about this issue, and for them to realise it's unavoidable. Maybe they (and you), could link up with opposites numbers (for instance), in Portland City Council and Denver - and key local experts (I'm in contact with a few), to begin to acknowledge and address this "Elephant in the Living Room." I'd also be more than happy to drop in for an informal chat with yourself, if you thought it would be useful. I'm also the Queensland contact for ASPO-Austrlia. Here's their website:-

Not that I'm an "Expert" or anything, but I got chatting to Bruce Robinson (the convenor), when he was in Brisbane last - and next thing I knew, I was on their site as the contact for Qld (maybe something to do with my interest in this subject, and previous successes with the media).

Further to your recent email, I have taken some to digest the contents and the many links provided. I understand you are looking for an opportunity to meet with councillors of Beaudesrt Shire Council to discuss your views on local planning for oil depletion. I am meeting with councillors tomorrow to plan future meeting dates for committee meetings, among other issues. I will outline your conerns to them and will be in contact with in due course to advise their availability to meet with you.

Alastair Dawson Chief Executive Officer, Beaudesert Shire Council back to the top

Lead "Letter to the Editor," Jimboomba Times, Wednesday 19th July 2006, "Difficult Times Ahead" back to the top

Quoted from ABC, 7/7/06 “There are warnings for motorists that fuel prices could be as high as $1.50 per litre by next week.” And “. . . Rising prices will add to inflation, raising the chance that the Reserve Bank will increase interest rates next month.”

I guess that news sends shivers through many, as it should. There are two key responses to this info, organising to protect and support each other – and then seeing the deeper problems.

First, those already on the edge need community support and mutual help. The stress of spiralling petrol and interest rates can tear families apart.

So what about the deeper problems? First, to see oil is in global decline, and prices are heading to the heavens. For instance, here are two quotes, the first from Bill Clinton at the London Business School, March 28 2006 "We may be at a point of peak oil production. You may see $100 a barrel oil in the next two or three years.”

Former Federal Reserve chairman, offered a grim view on Wednesday of the world's rising vulnerability to high crude oil prices, saying he was sceptical that oil producers could pump enough crude to meet future demand” (Reuters News Agency, June 7, 2006).

We need to understand the link between economic growth and oil. All our lives, crude output has increased, facilitating expansion. Less tomorrow than today is a new ball game. We’re in uncharted territory. The central bankers know this, but they’re not keen on us knowing. Hence, “Increased interest rates” are sold as “Fighting inflation” – when the real story is a grab for assets as businesses and homes are re-possessed.

Banks make money on the way up and the way down. They call the shots. Here’s a quote from senior oil geologist/scientist Dr. Colin Campbell, in a 2006 report for the UK Government, that shows where we’re heading:-

“The second half of the oil age, which now dawns, will be marked by the decline of oil, followed by gas, and all that depends upon these abundant, easy to produce and relatively cheap sources of energy. Possibly the most serious impact will be on the supply of financial capital which has expanded rapidly over the past Century as banks lent more than they had on deposit, confident that Tomorrow’s Economic Expansion was collateral for To-day’s Debt. The expansion was fuelled largely by abundant oil based energy which is set to decline over the years ahead.”

So what can we do? First, protect and support the most vulnerable – which is likely to include more and more of us as petrol and interest rates climb. Second, by demanding our politicians serve us – not the bankers.

At its heart the global system of “Fractional reserve banking” is an unsustainable fraud – a pyramid scheme. It’s only possible when the basic commodity, energy, is expanding.

All our lives, we’ve been on the up-curve. Now we’re in a new place, the down-curve. In these circumstances, our current banking and money system will tear lives apart if it’s not checked by people power. Mrs. Kim Bax

Link to a piece in "The Magnetic Times" (near Townsville), about local planning efforts in Beaudesert Shire for oil depletion - June 13th 2006 back to the top

"The Ethos Centre" at Binna Burra in Beaudesert Shire are doing key work in relation to an energy-depleted future. Here's their October 2006 newsletter back to the top

"The Ethos Centre" at Binna Burra in Beaudesert Shire are doing key work in relation to an energy-depleted future. Here's their Sept 2006 newsletter back to the top

"The Ethos Centre" at Binna Burra in Beaudesert Shire are doing key work in relation to an energy-depleted future. Here's their August 2006 newsletter back to the top