The other good news is that Martin Ferguson is also well aware of our reliance on imported petroleum:
"Without new oil discoveries Australia could face a trade deficit in petroleum products of more than $25 billion by 2015 and domestic oil production could be as little as 20 per cent of our needs compared with 80 per cent in the 1990s."
He even has a plan to deal with this oil import vulnerability. The bad news is that it looks like this (hat tip to Matt in Sydney and Stuart in Brisbane):
Plan A: "Our future depends on finding Australia’s next Bass Strait".
Plan B: See Plan A.
The worse news is that JFM ('just find more') can't use a calculator. The oft-quoted "$25 billion petroleum trade deficit by 2015" figure comes from Belinda Robinson's presentation to the APPEA annual conference last year, and assumed an oil price of $US55/bbl. Given the current price trend, we're more likely to see a figure of around $100 billion, equivalent to 10% of current GDP.
"Australian Federal Energy Policy, 2008.
The Honourable 'Marn" Fergusen, MP.
Problem: rising energy costs.
Solution: burn more coal!"
I'm sure it'll be a ripper read...
We already know Martin 'just find more' Ferguson has a plan:
http://anz.theoildrum.com/node/3815
The worse news is that JFM ('just find more') can't use a calculator. The oft-quoted "$25 billion petroleum trade deficit by 2015" figure comes from Belinda Robinson's presentation to the APPEA annual conference last year, and assumed an oil price of $US55/bbl. Given the current price trend, we're more likely to see a figure of around $100 billion, equivalent to 10% of current GDP.