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Science, Technology, Environment & Resources - Internet Resources

Petrol, Ethanol, Biofuels and Other Issues

Petrol Pricing | Australia | ACT | NSWNTQLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA | Alternative Transport FuelsOther Petroleum Issues |

Petrol Pricing

  • Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
    • Petrol price cycles - ACCC data on petrol price cycles in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth and information on the determinants of petrol prices.
    • Recent petrol pricing reports - ACCC reports in response to requests from the Federal Government.
  • Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources
    • Petroleum - links to information on the Australian Government's regulation of the petroleum sector, including the downstream petroleum industry, health and safety, taxes and excises.
    • Petroleum Refining and Fuels - links to statistics and information on the petroleum refining, distribution and retail industry, including the Downstream Petroleum Products Action Agenda.
    • Petroleum Retail - information on the Australian Government reform process for the downstream petroleum industry and related programs, legislation and documentation.
  • NRMA fuel guide and fuel-up (an explanation of the types of fuel available)
  • Save money on petrol - from the NRMA

Current Parliamentary Inquiry

Senate Economics Legislation Committee Inquiry into the price of petrol in Australia - report tabled 7 December 2006.

  Terms of reference:

  • the relationship between the landed price of crude oil, refining costs, the wholesale price and the retail price of petrol
  • regional differences in the retail price of petrol
  • variations in the retail price of petrol at particular times
  • the industry’s integrated structure; and
  • any other related matters.

Sites with Australia-wide Information

Following is a guide to sites that monitor petrol prices in Australia.

  • Australian Automobile Association - FUELtrac commissioned by AAA to collect petrol price data in each capital city and major regional centres around Australia.
  • Australian Institute of Petroleum - prices at the pump.
  • Motormouth - currently reports fuel prices in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth only.
  • Shell Australia petrol pricing
  • Caltex - fuel pricing
  • BP Australia fuel pricing
  • ExplorOz.com national fuel prices (Site for travellers, camping, four wheel driving and caravanning in Australia)

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Northern Territory

  • Northern Territory fuel watch from Consumer and Business Affairs

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

  • Fuelwatch - an initiative of the Western Australian Government and administered by the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.

Alternative Transport Fuels

  • Biofuels Task Force - 'On 30 May 2005, the Prime Minister announced the appointment of a Taskforce to examine the latest scientific evidence on the impacts of ethanol and other biofuel use on human health, environmental outcomes and automotive operations'. The report was released on 22 September 2005.
  • Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources
    • Biofuels - information on biofuels and alternative fuels, ie those not sourced from petrol or diesel.
  • International Energy Agency/Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - Biofuels for transport: an international perspective, 2004

LPG

  • LPG Australia (previously the Australian Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association Ltd.) and LP Autogas
  • Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources
    • Liquefied Petroleum Gas - links and information on the Australian LPG industry and the Australian Government's Transport Fuels Policy.

Ethanol and Biodiesel

CNG

Hydrogen

  • Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources
    • Hydrogen - Information on the use of compressed and liquid hydrogen as an alternative fuel.

Other Petroleum Issues

  • ABC Four Corners - 10 July 2006
    • Peak Oil - 'the era of cheap oil may be over and a growing number of analysts predict production is about to peak before significantly falling behind demand. Jonathan Holmes investigates'.
      • video
      • transcript
      • key articles and reports presenting both sides of the peak oil debate, Australian perspectives on the urban impact of declining oil, plus a section presenting renewable energy alternatives.
      • Peak Oil data  incorporating the world's top oil producers and consumers, their peak production dates and, country by country, demand versus available supply.
  • Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics -  Is the world running out of oil? a review of the debate? (Working Paper no. 61):

    The world economy is heavily dependent on the continuing supply of oil, with transport in particular having few viable alternative sources of energy. This report aims at dispassionately examine both sides of what is sometimes an emotive debate, identifying the main differences between the opposing views and briefly exploring the policy implications of the different approaches.

  • Nick Tabakoff, 'Brave new wheels', Bulletin with Newsweek, 26 September 2006, pp.28-34

    Demand for oil could outstrip supply within 10 years, pushing petrol over $5 a litre. Enter the hybrid and alternative-fuel cars that will be cheap to run, stylish and safe. Australia is in the driver's seat.

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