Unfortunately Michael, Macquarie Bank aren't the only ones not listening. There's no doubt that Howard and his cronies are not listening or refuse to acknowledge peak oil , but it's the same with Rudd and his Labor party. His quotes in newspapers are often tinged with 'keeping the economy on track.' My only hope is that should he get into power, he'll implement some sort of policy to address the problem of the end of cheap oil, but I won't be holding my breath.
One of the biggest economic problems associated with the oil situation in the future may be the relationship between peak oil and Australian superannuation funds, some of which are tied closely to road infrastructure such as toll roads, tunnels and an inviable air transport network. What happens to our funds when expensive fuel decimates road and air usage and those same super investments go down the gurgler? People should be writing to their super funds and asking these very important questions and changing to funds that provided better access to renewable energies.
Maybe it won't matter much in another 50 years if peak oil destroys the World economy, but it's a question that should be addressed.

Good article. Many Cities in the UK and Ireland are already adopting the 'Transition Towns' model for responding to the twin challenges of Peak Oil and Climate Change. Where are we?

Since peak oil is predicted by most experts to occur by 2020, planning over the next 13 years is essential if we're to make a smooth transition towards transport and energy systems not based on petrol, diesel and oil.

Rocketing petrol prices as we approach peak oil will be a major challenge for people who are heavily car-dependant. Fobbing the problem to the ACCC will not solve the underlying problem.

Our politicians have never be strong on strategic planning but they must start on the extensive transitional changes required to existing transport infrastructure for an oil- free future.

Engaging interested members of our communities to begin developing local government Transition Initiatives could get the wheels turning. Creation of local Energy Descent Action Plans is a starting point.

Local action plans are needed accross the nation for transport facilities such as:
* Provision of facilities in Central Business Districts for electric cars.
* Allow electric cars to be given re-charge while you park concessions as they do in Oakland, USA.
* Allow the import and licencing of electric cars from India and make Australia an electric car manufacturing country
* Plan for extensive expansion of each city's existing cycle ways and
* Open up routes that horse and buggy riders
Our energy descent plans could involve planning new Civic Centres and public buildings that apply highly energy and water efficient technology and design like the new Melbourne City Council building.

To our candidates for the next federal election, what initiatives do you propose to respond to the looming peak oil event? Peak oil? Who's listening?

Quick Response, in the UK and Ireland, townships are not all that far apart. Unfortunately, in rural Australia, what could be achieved by bicycle in UK/Europe cannot be achieved here. None the less, your plans are quite sound.
The biggest problem is that we don't have enough high profile figures who are willing to jump onto the bandwagon of peak oil. Ireland has Colin Campbell and are justifiably proud of him. The whole world should sing his praises for the heads up he's provided all of us, but sadly, so few Australians are prepared to listen to his message.
Whilst John Howard holds the reins of power in this country, you can forget electric vehicles. He's already stated his opposition to them siting loss of jobs because "they don't require any maintenance." I believe his opposition has more to do with propping up his 'big oil' mates. Also, how can you tax the sunlight falling on EV owners solar cells?
We won't have any real meaningful change until the oil situation has destroyed the economic system once and for all, but unfortunately, by then it may well be too late to mitigate the damage caused to manufacturing industries who could provided a buffer of alternatives. The clock is ticking on oil, but the alarm hasn't gone off yet for our politicians. They'd best wake up quickly before any semblance of opportunity is lost.

Another excellent piece. Australians are starting to get our heads around this stuff now. We certainly need to. But it is not yet too late. There is still just enough time to save our kids from the new enemy - which is us. Petroleum Man can still reinvent herself as Sustainable Woman, if she is smart.

Our kids should not have to live in yurts if we start planning intelligently soon. In Australia there is still enough readily available non-renewable energy in the ground that we can use it to build a new energy conversion infrastructure based on renewable energy. We in Australia have huge solar, wind, tidal, wave and geothermal energy conversion potential. It is a matter of our society resolving to find the money – money we waste now on things we don’t need - to build this new energy conversion infrastructure while oil and coal are still cheap and available. Everything we need to build that new physical infrastructure – metals, concrete, plastics, advanced silicates, earthmoving energy – now comes from oil-based products and processes. Once that new infrastructure is built, producing enough surplus energy to go on maintaining and renewing itself, we should be OK, and should have capacity and know-how to help others in the world less favourably placed.

All our politicians are still phlegmatic about this, or pretending to be. Howard never will get it. He will die a climate change and peak oil sceptic. I doubt he has moral empathy to imagine our responsibility to our children. This is the government, after all, that robs our working young so that the old can live in clover on superannuation. Why should it care about the fate of children not yet born?

Rudd is young, ferociously intelligent, and of a moral mind. He has to get elected first, but once elected, I pray that he will quickly grasp what needs to be done, and will be the quality of leader to inspire us to do it.

Howard offers only guaranteed inactivity disguised by spin. Rudd offers hope of real action after the election.

This sounds to me like the same (un)reasoned logic promoted by the Year 2000 mob who expected anarchy and the failure of our government to provide water to the bathtub. Maybe it is the same band of people.

We will not wake up one morning and see headlines screaming "No More Coal", or "No Oil Remains - We Have Used it All"

Simple marketplace logic would indicate that as the price of petrol increases due to declining availability of crude oil, other sources of fuel will arise because the financial viability will be met. This is already happening with methanol and cooking oil powered diesels. Not to mention the more affordable solar panels and windmills.

New sources of power will be found and new engines will be invented to drive our transportation needs. General Motors, Ford, Boeing et al. are much aware of the future power needs of the marketplace. However their product offerings are driven by what the population is willing to buy. Until the price of petrol is driven quite a bit higher there will not be a large demand for the dual fuel (or alternate fuel) cars, buses and planes that can be delivered today.

Not until the price of electricity is driven much higher will there be a demand for nuclear power, or maybe even huge windmills in every backyard

tonyk, if only it were so. talk about 'cargo-cult' psychology, those pacific islanders at least had the example of a few real airplanes.

pollies ain't gonna do it, and oz isn't going to respond to the power/pollution crisis in an organized and effective way.

so plan b:

1. motor scooters are going to make a big comeback. some bright engineer will put together a golfcart battery and a washing machine motor with a mountain bike and ozelec vehicles will be born. soichiro honda did something similar after wwll.

2. put your super in solar hot water companies, they will grow like mushrooms.

3. convert your house and life to 12volt sytems. a solar cell array on your roof of 2-4 kilowatts with some car batteries in the garage will allow an austere but civilized life.

4. put up a wall around your property and acquire an automatic rifle. your neighbors are going to rely on pollies to save them, and will consequently be unemployed, starving, and desperate. don't allow their feckless dependence on lies to interfere with your provident planning.