In order to once again become energy independent Australians must ‘first’ be offered an alternative to the current renewable madness. And, that can only come from an opposition prepared to prosecute the case for prioritising the use of our fossil fuel resources to the benefit of Australia.
For I have little doubt that if we don’t change tact, our fiscal situation will deteriorate to the point that out of desperation, foreign entities will be allowed to exploit our energy resources for their own best interests…. ahead of ours.
Energy is essential for the creation of goods and services. Any government should strive to reduce the cost of energy. To do otherwise is vandalism. It's equivalent to hanging oneself by a rope from the branch of a tree. Conservatism respects these facts. Where are the Australian conservatives, if indeed we ever had them?
Thank you, Chris. A genuine journalist, unafraid to tell the truth. Kudos.
Such is the cynicism of Australia’s politicians, that they will likely exploit this disaster - not to help improve the lives of Australians, of course, but to sheet home the current economic situation in Australia (which they are culpable for) to foreign events that they will claim they can’t control.
Meanwhile Australia’s abundant energy resources remain untapped and unused, trapped in the Kafkaesque infantile ideological prison of ‘net zero’, which these same incompetent politicians have foisted on Australia.
I include both major political parties in this, although I’d argue that the ALP machine is more organised, ruthless and cynical, than the LNP, which to be honest at times appears to be all over the joint.
But anyway, it’s always important to remember - all these Canberra popinjays care about is power for themselves. All they care about is the next election. Any lie will do, to get them over the line.
That is the short term limit of their horizon, and also the shallow calculus that they use in the very brief moments when they engage their brains.
I can still recall a time where there were genuinely high quality leaders in Canberra, who were committed to the national interest and who looked beyond the electoral cycle when making decisions, especially involving major reforms.
No way those leaders would have permitted this debacle to happen.
They wouldn’t even have risked permitting it to occur.
Perhaps we have to blame ourselves for allowing a system to thrive, in which such low quality individuals thrive. And perhaps the lesson we need to learn is that it is our responsibility to change the system, to prevent these people remaining in power.
Absolutely. The mainstream media needs to take some responsibility here too - they've championed the climate cause and parroted the ALP & Greens nuclear fear mongering at every opportunity. When ideology is prioritised over truth, bad policy is inevitable.
Uhlmann's clarion cry to Canberra - irrespective of the colour of their ideological politics - is the cry of a true patriot and a fellow citizen who recognises our crises the shares the desperation I am feeling. Donald Horne wrote in the 60s that we were a first rate country run by second rate sorts and the same holds true today. Reading The Lucky Country in the noughties when I came across it I was shocked at how relevant it was then. Today it is even more relevant and the wake up call more urgent. I am bitterly concerned by the paucity of country and citizens first/ego and self-interest last among our political and bureaucratic class. Australia's bounty in energy sources (uranium gas coal and potential oil) could see us the richest nation on earth with the best living standards and future of anywhere. We have oceans and fertile plains to feed us too, in abundance. What we don't have and never will have via the sun and wind gods imposed on us by greedy opportunism (which create more destruction across the landscape and heartache to those whose gates and fences are ignored) are fertilizers or fuel or manufacturing to ensure survival and flourishing. Give me the political party who will put a stop to Bowen and Chalmers, Holmes a Court and his acolytes, Burke, Wong... and yes the many limp lustreless numpties in the Coalition who fail to grasp the urgency of the existential threats we are facing, and they'll have my vote.
Nothing will get better until the greens lose the balance of power in Canberra senate. They have strangled us for decade's and stolen the wealth from our youth. Every new immigrant needs to realise their welfare is on the line as well.
Assuming we escape the current fuel crisis with some skin left, what should be done by way of policy to ensure better fuel security for the future? Here are the bare bones of a possible new policy approach—
Firstly, take action to meet our IEA obligations on petroleum stockholdings, sharing costs with industry and sorting out logistical issues.
Second, take action to stimulate petroleum exploration by a package of policies—Commonwealth and State authorities to release more permit areas for oil exploration with support from GeoScience Australia; the Commonwealth to reintroduce a Petroleum Search Subsidy Act (which successfully supported exploration in the 1960s and 1970s).
Third, encourage development of petroleum finds by reviewing and reducing environmental constraints and related red tape.
In the longer term, and subject to developments, monitor and review the options for petroleum fuel production from alternative sources.
To oversee progress, set up a Petroleum Industry Advisory Council, with industry, defence and consumer representatives, to advise and report regularly on developments. There are useful precedents from the past.
If we are serious about future fuel security, Governments need to consider and adopt policy options along these lines.
Subject: The scary part we will run out hydrocarbons before we find a replacement
Australia faces a long-term energy security risks that is not being clearly addressed, and for which responsibility has been fragmented across governments, opposition parties and sections of the media. Public discussion of fuel security is often limited to short-term price movements rather than the deeper structural issues affecting supply resilience.
The issue is not that oil and gas will suddenly disappear. The real concern is that secure and affordable hydrocarbon supply will become progressively harder to maintain before large-scale replacement energy systems are ready. Over time this pressure will build through rising extraction costs, declining domestic capability and increasing reliance on complex global supply chains.
In the short term, modern Australia remains heavily dependent on liquid fuels. Freight transport, agriculture, mining, aviation, construction and defence all require high-energy-density hydrocarbons. Electrification of interstate rail infrastructure can help preserve heavy fuel use in some sectors, and alternative fuels will contribute in the future. However, they are not yet capable of replacing liquid fuels across the entire economy. Energy transitions take decades, and national planning must reflect this reality.
Australia’s fuel security position has weakened over time. Domestic refining capacity has declined, strategic fuel reserves remain limited, and distribution infrastructure is heavily concentrated around coastal import terminals. This creates exposure to supply disruption from geopolitical tensions, shipping chokepoints, cyber incidents, natural disasters or industrial accidents.
Strengthening fuel security requires practical and coordinated infrastructure planning. Consideration should be given to developing large-scale refinery precincts rather than isolated facilities. These precincts could share marine terminals, crude storage, pipeline connections, rail loading systems and common utilities. This approach can reduce duplication, improve construction efficiency and build long-term industrial capability.
Inland strategic fuel storage hubs are essential and should be developed to support regional supply and improve national resilience. Locations in major transport and agricultural regions could provide buffer capacity during supply disruptions and reduce dependence on long coastal distribution chains.
Northern Australia and the Great Australian Bite contains known hydrocarbon resources, including conventional and unconventional oil and gas formations. Many of these resources are remote from refining and distribution centres. Developing pipeline corridors and standard-gauge rail links connecting northern production regions with eastern refining capacity would strengthen national fuel logistics. Greater standard-gauge connectivity through Queensland and into southern Australia would improve freight efficiency and support future fuel distribution needs.
It is also important to recognise that there are effectively two interdependent economies — the energy economy and the financial economy. Wealth can be created within the financial system, but it ultimately relies on the strength and productivity of the energy system. If the energy sector is not capable of delivering reliable and energy-positive supply, long-term economic stability will be at risk.
The transition to new energy systems must continue, but it must be managed responsibly. Biofuels, electrification, hydrogen and synthetic fuels may all contribute in different ways. However, many alternatives face challenges related to energy return, cost, land use, infrastructure scale and reliability. Investment in new energy systems must deliver secure and affordable supply rather than creating infrastructure that is expensive to operate and vulnerable to disruption.
Energy security is a shared national responsibility. Too often the issue is dismissed as someone else’s problem or deferred to future governments. Decisions made today will influence the economic strength, employment opportunities and resilience available to our children and grandchildren. Planning for secure hydrocarbon supply during the transition period is a practical step that supports both current industry needs and long-term energy development.
Australia has the technical capability and industrial experience to strengthen its fuel security position. Clear policy direction, coordinated infrastructure planning and sustained community engagement are needed to ensure that the nation remains secure and productive while new energy systems are developed.
Failure to plan carefully risks exposing Australia to avoidable economic and strategic shocks during the energy transition, along with lower future incomes and reduced job opportunities.
I don't disagree but I suspect (and hope) that "back to normal" will be quicker than we think. I remember in the first Gulf War when a lot of oil wells were on fire, that "experts" said it would take years to extinguish. From what I remember, Red Adair put them out in less than a year, as opposed to the 3 or 4 years that were predicted. I think the oil industry has a lot of very smart and capable people that will pull out all stops to restore supply as fast as they can.
In order to once again become energy independent Australians must ‘first’ be offered an alternative to the current renewable madness. And, that can only come from an opposition prepared to prosecute the case for prioritising the use of our fossil fuel resources to the benefit of Australia.
For I have little doubt that if we don’t change tact, our fiscal situation will deteriorate to the point that out of desperation, foreign entities will be allowed to exploit our energy resources for their own best interests…. ahead of ours.
Energy is essential for the creation of goods and services. Any government should strive to reduce the cost of energy. To do otherwise is vandalism. It's equivalent to hanging oneself by a rope from the branch of a tree. Conservatism respects these facts. Where are the Australian conservatives, if indeed we ever had them?
Thank you, Chris. A genuine journalist, unafraid to tell the truth. Kudos.
Such is the cynicism of Australia’s politicians, that they will likely exploit this disaster - not to help improve the lives of Australians, of course, but to sheet home the current economic situation in Australia (which they are culpable for) to foreign events that they will claim they can’t control.
Meanwhile Australia’s abundant energy resources remain untapped and unused, trapped in the Kafkaesque infantile ideological prison of ‘net zero’, which these same incompetent politicians have foisted on Australia.
I include both major political parties in this, although I’d argue that the ALP machine is more organised, ruthless and cynical, than the LNP, which to be honest at times appears to be all over the joint.
But anyway, it’s always important to remember - all these Canberra popinjays care about is power for themselves. All they care about is the next election. Any lie will do, to get them over the line.
That is the short term limit of their horizon, and also the shallow calculus that they use in the very brief moments when they engage their brains.
I can still recall a time where there were genuinely high quality leaders in Canberra, who were committed to the national interest and who looked beyond the electoral cycle when making decisions, especially involving major reforms.
No way those leaders would have permitted this debacle to happen.
They wouldn’t even have risked permitting it to occur.
Perhaps we have to blame ourselves for allowing a system to thrive, in which such low quality individuals thrive. And perhaps the lesson we need to learn is that it is our responsibility to change the system, to prevent these people remaining in power.
Well said mate, sadly 95% of the electorate haven’t a clue what you are on about. Led largely by an even more clueless media.
Absolutely. The mainstream media needs to take some responsibility here too - they've championed the climate cause and parroted the ALP & Greens nuclear fear mongering at every opportunity. When ideology is prioritised over truth, bad policy is inevitable.
Put coal in the Coalition energy policy!
https://rafechampion.substack.com/p/flat-white-put-coal-back-in-the-coalition
Start planning to exit net zero.
https://rafechampion.substack.com/p/looking-for-the-net-zero-exit-sign
JO NOVA REPORTS - COAL CAN BE THE BIG WINNER FROM THE WAR
https://rafechampion.substack.com/p/coal-can-be-the-big-winner-from-the
BURN COAL OR DIE IN THE DARK
https://rafechampion.substack.com/p/slowing-the-rise-of-energy-prices
And coal liquefaction - I believe China gets about 30% of its oil from that process - probably from our lignite.
There is a solution. In fact it is the only solution - make our own: https://wentworthreport.com/the-solution-to-our-fuel-crisis/
Uhlmann's clarion cry to Canberra - irrespective of the colour of their ideological politics - is the cry of a true patriot and a fellow citizen who recognises our crises the shares the desperation I am feeling. Donald Horne wrote in the 60s that we were a first rate country run by second rate sorts and the same holds true today. Reading The Lucky Country in the noughties when I came across it I was shocked at how relevant it was then. Today it is even more relevant and the wake up call more urgent. I am bitterly concerned by the paucity of country and citizens first/ego and self-interest last among our political and bureaucratic class. Australia's bounty in energy sources (uranium gas coal and potential oil) could see us the richest nation on earth with the best living standards and future of anywhere. We have oceans and fertile plains to feed us too, in abundance. What we don't have and never will have via the sun and wind gods imposed on us by greedy opportunism (which create more destruction across the landscape and heartache to those whose gates and fences are ignored) are fertilizers or fuel or manufacturing to ensure survival and flourishing. Give me the political party who will put a stop to Bowen and Chalmers, Holmes a Court and his acolytes, Burke, Wong... and yes the many limp lustreless numpties in the Coalition who fail to grasp the urgency of the existential threats we are facing, and they'll have my vote.
As long as we remember the uniparty got us into this mess.
And both Albanese and Taylor helped get us into our current mess:
https://wentworthreport.com/albanese-and-report-117/
The sad thing about the dire energy calamity is that the green vote in the polls hasn’t dropped.
Sadly, it seems that they will never learn!
How dare you! Our rulers have no clothes - how can you think such a thing?
Thank you for your unrelenting pursuit of reality Chris.
Nothing will get better until the greens lose the balance of power in Canberra senate. They have strangled us for decade's and stolen the wealth from our youth. Every new immigrant needs to realise their welfare is on the line as well.
Assuming we escape the current fuel crisis with some skin left, what should be done by way of policy to ensure better fuel security for the future? Here are the bare bones of a possible new policy approach—
Firstly, take action to meet our IEA obligations on petroleum stockholdings, sharing costs with industry and sorting out logistical issues.
Second, take action to stimulate petroleum exploration by a package of policies—Commonwealth and State authorities to release more permit areas for oil exploration with support from GeoScience Australia; the Commonwealth to reintroduce a Petroleum Search Subsidy Act (which successfully supported exploration in the 1960s and 1970s).
Third, encourage development of petroleum finds by reviewing and reducing environmental constraints and related red tape.
In the longer term, and subject to developments, monitor and review the options for petroleum fuel production from alternative sources.
To oversee progress, set up a Petroleum Industry Advisory Council, with industry, defence and consumer representatives, to advise and report regularly on developments. There are useful precedents from the past.
If we are serious about future fuel security, Governments need to consider and adopt policy options along these lines.
Subject: The scary part we will run out hydrocarbons before we find a replacement
Australia faces a long-term energy security risks that is not being clearly addressed, and for which responsibility has been fragmented across governments, opposition parties and sections of the media. Public discussion of fuel security is often limited to short-term price movements rather than the deeper structural issues affecting supply resilience.
The issue is not that oil and gas will suddenly disappear. The real concern is that secure and affordable hydrocarbon supply will become progressively harder to maintain before large-scale replacement energy systems are ready. Over time this pressure will build through rising extraction costs, declining domestic capability and increasing reliance on complex global supply chains.
In the short term, modern Australia remains heavily dependent on liquid fuels. Freight transport, agriculture, mining, aviation, construction and defence all require high-energy-density hydrocarbons. Electrification of interstate rail infrastructure can help preserve heavy fuel use in some sectors, and alternative fuels will contribute in the future. However, they are not yet capable of replacing liquid fuels across the entire economy. Energy transitions take decades, and national planning must reflect this reality.
Australia’s fuel security position has weakened over time. Domestic refining capacity has declined, strategic fuel reserves remain limited, and distribution infrastructure is heavily concentrated around coastal import terminals. This creates exposure to supply disruption from geopolitical tensions, shipping chokepoints, cyber incidents, natural disasters or industrial accidents.
Strengthening fuel security requires practical and coordinated infrastructure planning. Consideration should be given to developing large-scale refinery precincts rather than isolated facilities. These precincts could share marine terminals, crude storage, pipeline connections, rail loading systems and common utilities. This approach can reduce duplication, improve construction efficiency and build long-term industrial capability.
Inland strategic fuel storage hubs are essential and should be developed to support regional supply and improve national resilience. Locations in major transport and agricultural regions could provide buffer capacity during supply disruptions and reduce dependence on long coastal distribution chains.
Northern Australia and the Great Australian Bite contains known hydrocarbon resources, including conventional and unconventional oil and gas formations. Many of these resources are remote from refining and distribution centres. Developing pipeline corridors and standard-gauge rail links connecting northern production regions with eastern refining capacity would strengthen national fuel logistics. Greater standard-gauge connectivity through Queensland and into southern Australia would improve freight efficiency and support future fuel distribution needs.
It is also important to recognise that there are effectively two interdependent economies — the energy economy and the financial economy. Wealth can be created within the financial system, but it ultimately relies on the strength and productivity of the energy system. If the energy sector is not capable of delivering reliable and energy-positive supply, long-term economic stability will be at risk.
The transition to new energy systems must continue, but it must be managed responsibly. Biofuels, electrification, hydrogen and synthetic fuels may all contribute in different ways. However, many alternatives face challenges related to energy return, cost, land use, infrastructure scale and reliability. Investment in new energy systems must deliver secure and affordable supply rather than creating infrastructure that is expensive to operate and vulnerable to disruption.
Energy security is a shared national responsibility. Too often the issue is dismissed as someone else’s problem or deferred to future governments. Decisions made today will influence the economic strength, employment opportunities and resilience available to our children and grandchildren. Planning for secure hydrocarbon supply during the transition period is a practical step that supports both current industry needs and long-term energy development.
Australia has the technical capability and industrial experience to strengthen its fuel security position. Clear policy direction, coordinated infrastructure planning and sustained community engagement are needed to ensure that the nation remains secure and productive while new energy systems are developed.
Failure to plan carefully risks exposing Australia to avoidable economic and strategic shocks during the energy transition, along with lower future incomes and reduced job opportunities.
I don't disagree but I suspect (and hope) that "back to normal" will be quicker than we think. I remember in the first Gulf War when a lot of oil wells were on fire, that "experts" said it would take years to extinguish. From what I remember, Red Adair put them out in less than a year, as opposed to the 3 or 4 years that were predicted. I think the oil industry has a lot of very smart and capable people that will pull out all stops to restore supply as fast as they can.