International Energy Agency Fuel-Saving Tips
[8.48 p.m.]
Ms BURNET (Clark) - Honourable Speaker, we are currently facing significant shockwaves felt right across the globe from oil exporting countries in the Persian Gulf with the bombing of Iran by the US and Israel, and the subsequent retaliatory bombing, having far‑reaching impacts. This has been the subject of much debate over the last couple of days.
It is evident that supply's disrupted, but there are many ways our state government can lead the response to reduce the other side of the ledger: the demand on oil. Indeed, the International Energy Agency in its report released last week, Sheltering from Oil Shocks: Measures to Reduce Impacts for Households and Businesses, details 10 demand-side options open to households, businesses and government to shelter themselves from today's oil shock and relieve the strains on cost of living. It can reduce demand on oil and LPG so they can use for other industries or for other applications, such as cooking in the case of LPG.
I will place on the record the list of 10 suggestions from the International Energy Agency because they're simple, but they can make a huge difference to people's cost‑of‑living strain and the overall energy or oil that we're using currently. The list of 10:
From home where possible, and sometimes this can reduce fuel costs by about 20 per cent for an individual.
Reduce speed limits on highways by at least 10 kilometres per hour and you can save a percentage of energy consumed.
Encourage public transport, which has been the subject of my question yesterday and an ongoing concern that I have. We have to try and encourage public transport use and that takes a government response.
Alternate private car access to roads in large cities on different days. Now we may not need to do this right now, but it's what some cities are already looking at.
Increase car sharing and adopt efficient driving practises.
Efficient driving for road commercial vehicles and the last kilometre of a trip is where commercial vehicles can save significant amounts of money and energy and oil costs.
Diverting LPG from transport.
Avoid air travel where other alternatives exist
Avoid LPG in cooking. Make the switch to electricity such as highly energy-efficient induction cookers, something that our household needs to consider as well.
Prioritise oil feedstocks and implement efficiency measures.
It is far better to adapt to changes early. This is a huge opportunity for the government and we're not hearing anything or any positive response, unfortunately, from the Premier. The fuel shock has reached our shores. It is time not only for the government to act but also for business and individuals to help reduce their cost-of-living crises and their demand. It is imperative that our government act. We need our Premier to show the leadership we require now in this deepening oil crisis.