Towards oil resilience

September 16, 2008

Australia is finding it difficult to access the quantities of oil that it needs at an affordable price. Demand for oil is not just coming from motorists. Farmers, miners and manufacturers are also competing for the same liquid gold that literally fuels our world.

The problem is the world is demanding more oil than it can produce. Additionally, many believe that the production of oil has—or is about to—peak.

Our State is experiencing the impacts of oil scarcity, along with our fellow Australians, our trading partners, our military allies, our regional neighbours and our friends and relations across the globe.

There is legitimate concern in many Queensland communities about the effects of an oil scarce future.

Queensland has a choice. We can either plan for an oil restricted world or we can become victims of the global market.

With an oil-resilience strategy, Queensland has the opportunity to set its own future. We must get ahead of the game by designing how we live and move around in an
oil-constrained world.

The Queensland Government does not want high oil prices to impact on the Queensland community’s capacity to travel, nor do we want our farms, mines and manufacturers to lose their competitive edge because they cannot get the necessary energy inputs.

This information paper considers what alternatives we can adopt, what other energy sources we can use, and what substitutes we can develop—so we can still have a happy
and prosperous Queensland population.

By expanding our options, we are spreading the risk and limiting the negative effects of oil scarcity and cost.

More options will reduce our dependence on large oil companies that demand even higher prices.

This information paper outlines how we can make lifestyle choices that can improve our quality of life.

So please have a read and consider what changes you and the Queensland Government can make to prepare for an oil-resilient future.


Tags: Fossil Fuels, Oil