Peak oil and transport planning

Submitted by Louise Sales on Tue, 12/04/2011 - 15:20

Extract from Hansard
[COUNCIL — Tuesday, 12 April 2011]
Hon Lynn MacLaren; Hon Simon O'Brien

OIL — SUPPLY AND PRICES

Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the Minister for Transport:

(1) Is the minister aware that the International Energy Agency has stated that production of conventional
crude oil peaked in 2006?

(2) Has the WA government developed a strategy to cope with the challenges of peak oil and climate
change, which makes recommendations for our transport system?

(3) Has the government conducted any modelling of the likely effects of peak oil on Perth’s transport
system, particularly on outer suburban and rural communities that are vulnerable to rising oil prices?

(4) What action is the government taking to protect the WA economy and vulnerable communities from
dwindling oil supplies and rising oil prices?

Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Department of Transport advises the
following —

(1) Yes.

(2) The Liberal–National Government is actively developing and implementing a range of strategies that
will assist the state’s transport system to respond to the challenges of peak oil and climate change.
Measures being undertaken include the soon to be released public transport master plan for Perth;
continued investment in cycling infrastructure; and ongoing implementation of TravelSmart programs
in workplaces, schools and households to encourage a shift to non-motorised forms of transport. The
government is also investigating and promoting alternative transport fuels and vehicle technologies—
for example, through participation in a trial of electric vehicles and recharging stations in Perth. The
“Energy2031 Strategic Energy Initiative Directions Paper” released in early March by the Minister for
Energy also canvasses a range of possible measures to encourage the development and uptake of
alternative transport fuels. Final recommendations are expected to be available in mid-2011.

(3) Yes. The Perth public transport plan examines impacts on the transport system from increases of the
price of petrol.

(4) See answer to (2).