Relax, Bazz, you're going to get petrol rationing.

The rationing system will be very simple; those who can afford to pay $5 per litre will do so, and those who can't will go without.

Global warming will not be a problem, as the amount of CO2 generated will be sharply reduced.

Welcome to the 21st century!

This being the case "The annual petroleum trade deficit already exceeds $8 billion, two thirds of the entire trade deficit." raises the issue of why has government not demanded of all transport registered in Australia under, say 5 tonne, be powered by LPG or LNG?

Yes rsstuart & plerdius you are both right.
It is virtually impossible to get governments to agree on global
warming measures over 20 yeqars, wait till they get poked in the eye with
a major fuel shortage in 3 to 5 years.

I tried to get my local council environmental people interested in the
Transition Towns movement, but all they want to talk about is global
warming. Here is a group of public servants paid to think ahead for
the good of the community and they think it is not a matter for them.
They are happy to run workshops for the ratepayers on changing light
globes and insulating their houses, but improve public transport,
change planning rules for farmer's markets, etc etc no way.

As the nun says on the TV, "They haven't got a clue !".

I'm from a community group lobbying for rail services in Northern NSW and for a rail link from NSW to QLD. See www.toot.org.au.

In lobbying for rail we use a variety of angles, including peak oil, climate change, congestion and loss of social amenity, as well as social justice for those without cars. With such a mix we are able to gather widespread community support, and are now working on gaining political will at all levels of government and in the public service.

Our discussion paper "Connecting Communities Linking Regions" http://www.toot.org.au/dmdocuments/CCLR.pdf looks at the AusLink paper on the Sydney-Brisbane corridor & suggests rail as part of the solution for congestion and for climate change.

(The electrified line that currently runs from Brisbane to Robina is being extended south to the Coolangatta airport. Our rail line ends a mere 26km further south near Murwillumbah.)

Great reality check Karin, peak oil is big but its not the end of the world; the end of overfed infantilism, maybe. Great too to see near unanimous concern and support for common sense measures to adapt infrastructure and price signals, should too end the 10% import tariff discount for 4WDs, re-form national rail corp, merge urban PT management across modes, altogether might do for 2007.

Of course if we were really serious we'd mandate car pooling for business/schools/gov, set freeway limit to 60km/hr, and tax inefficient cars with War on Terror savagery. Cos we all know car freaks fund terrorism.