Janet Collins
Billy MPetrol Prices and Climate Change
July 7th 2008 10:05
The other day I was remembering a long conversation I had with a friend sometime in the recession that came in the early 1990s. We agreed that we were very lucky at the time because we had jobs, everything everywhere was on a permanent sale so if we didn’t think we would lose our jobs we could buy lots of things at half the price than we could in good times.
It is similar to the petrol prices today. Many have company cars and petrol is part of the deal. Others in the senior levels of government are much the same and many (if not all) of our politicians too enjoy such a privilege. In fact, you could go so far as to say that with each petrol price hike, these people actually get a pay rise.
Many critics would say that many company paid cars are taken as part of a package and in a salary review, the new prices will be taken into account and renegotiated accordingly. In this event it doesn’t apply. Many business owners can also claim their vehicles and the expenditure that goes with them. These factors make a good argument against how rising petrol prices will necessarily make everyone take responsibility for addressing climate change.
Many of those I have mentioned do not drive cars that are economic on petrol. That probably explains why the rising petrol prices have not deterred people from buying vehicles such as four wheel drives.
So petrol prices rises affect mostly those who pay for their cars out of their disposable income. Many of these earn much lower wages or salary and their locations of work prohibit them from catching public transport. Even in such a busy city that Sydney is, there are many remote locations where people work and giving away their cars would mean giving away their jobs.
I like to consider myself an environmentalist. I recycle everything I can. I even use my water frugally and use some of my shower water rather than flush the toilet every time I use it. I drive a car – a very economic one by most standards – and I catch public transport when it is possible to do so. Many of my close friends and family do the same.
If Australia is meant to lead this whole emissions trading scheme, then our leaders should also take the lead and drive smaller, more petrol efficient cars. They could also wind down their obsession with jumping on planes every time they want to have a half-hour discussion in some other country. If they want to lead, then lead the way. Has anyone mentioned what car Professor Garnaut drives?
It is similar to the petrol prices today. Many have company cars and petrol is part of the deal. Others in the senior levels of government are much the same and many (if not all) of our politicians too enjoy such a privilege. In fact, you could go so far as to say that with each petrol price hike, these people actually get a pay rise.
Many critics would say that many company paid cars are taken as part of a package and in a salary review, the new prices will be taken into account and renegotiated accordingly. In this event it doesn’t apply. Many business owners can also claim their vehicles and the expenditure that goes with them. These factors make a good argument against how rising petrol prices will necessarily make everyone take responsibility for addressing climate change.
Many of those I have mentioned do not drive cars that are economic on petrol. That probably explains why the rising petrol prices have not deterred people from buying vehicles such as four wheel drives.
So petrol prices rises affect mostly those who pay for their cars out of their disposable income. Many of these earn much lower wages or salary and their locations of work prohibit them from catching public transport. Even in such a busy city that Sydney is, there are many remote locations where people work and giving away their cars would mean giving away their jobs.
I like to consider myself an environmentalist. I recycle everything I can. I even use my water frugally and use some of my shower water rather than flush the toilet every time I use it. I drive a car – a very economic one by most standards – and I catch public transport when it is possible to do so. Many of my close friends and family do the same.
If Australia is meant to lead this whole emissions trading scheme, then our leaders should also take the lead and drive smaller, more petrol efficient cars. They could also wind down their obsession with jumping on planes every time they want to have a half-hour discussion in some other country. If they want to lead, then lead the way. Has anyone mentioned what car Professor Garnaut drives?
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Comment by charles
FanFootball
ZCars
Ponderous
Their explanation - closed for 'safety' concerns - just takes the piss!
Comment by Janet Collins
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
It's good to see that someone has brought this out into the open. I have been astounded sometimes when I drive into a station, shocked I might add that I can drive to a pump o easily on "cheap days" only to see that petrol was unavailable.
I didn't test it. I'm gl;ad someone else has. My post was basically about price fixing an this is exactly what it is.
Thanks for the comment.
Janet