Why spend $20 million on an ad campaign when a simple message to the nation would have done the same job?
The average Australian citizen knows how to save on fuel – the cost alone is a deterrent to unnecessary use.
People are already cutting back on trips, but for some this is impossible.
Country parents have to drive long distances to even get their children to and from the school bus stops, their education is non-negotiable, so the trips have to be done at a great cost to the family budget.
There is no public transport in most rural areas, not even a train service these days, so how are country people supposed to cut back on fuel usage when they have to drive great distances to doctors’ appointments or to shop for essentials.
Farmers are reconsidering what to sow-this will have a massive flow on effect on food supply and the economy.
Fuel is essential for the running of all types of farming operations, including the transport of grain, milk etc.
The trucking industry is essential to transport goods and stock to markets to keep the grocery shelves stocked – how are they supposed to cut back on fuel usage?
The cost is already causing a lot of damage to these vital industries, so they don’t need to have their intelligence insulted by telling them to cut back.
Fuel rationing is not something new – I remember it during World War II.
This was war time and everyone knew they had to conserve everything for the war effort.
There weren’t as many cars around then, but farmers still had to come to town to do their shopping etc, doctors still had to drive to see patients and so it goes on.
Car owners were issued with ration coupons so were limited to how much fuel they could buy, so they soon learnt to cope with the system.
I guess the system worked without massive amounts being spent telling drivers what to do.
As a child, I was fascinated by the so called ‘gas bags’ on the top of some cars – not sure how they worked, but they generated fuel to drive the vehicles, not that I’m suggesting their return!
Politicians need to follow their own advice and set an example to the nation.
I know our local members have no way to car pool or cut back on their driving as they have to see and be seen throughout their vast electorates as they carry out their duties.
The money would have been better spent finding a solution to the problem, not patching it up with a ‘band aid’ and hoping the problem would disappear.
We were once mostly self-sufficient in most commodities, including fuel with our big oil refineries – what happened?
I know all countries depend on trade between countries, it’s a fact of life, but surely our own needs should come first before we start exporting and importing everything.
Thalia Phelps
Narrabri
