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Water rates for mutual benefit: The argument that it was unfair for some people to use more water "ignores the fact that rates are a tax, which we all pay for our mutual benefit." Changes in a taxation system may be done in the name of equity, but it was only ever the proponents who benefited, Freeman added.

Usage stable over decade: "The current usage of water in Southern Tasmania varied between 36,000 and 40,000 megalitres a year and this has not increased over the last 10 years so we have adequate resources and the present infrastructure could cope with a significant increase in load if that is required in the future," Freeman said.

State faces rural supply hurdle: "There is no doubt that if the State Government is to access part of the $2 billion Commonwealth water fund then it will need to show that it can solve the problems of the rural areas who are without adequate infrastructure and do not have the rate base to provide it themselves.

Cooperation with needy councils: "I would suggest that there are two ways this might be done. The first is that the councils with inadequate infrastructure form an association with the water authority in their region and use that authority’s expertise to develop and implement appropriate systems to supply water and waste water systems to their areas. Hobart Water has already done this with Derwent Valley Council and is in discussions with the Glamorgan Spring Bay and Tasman councils to assist them with their problems.

New authority proposed: "A second solution is that a fourth water authority is created to take in all the councils which have inadequate infrastructure and that given the large geographical spread such an organisation would tender out its work to one of the existing authorities. This would prevent cross subsidisation and give greater control to local users.

Funding goal for deprived areas: "Both of these solutions would allow our State Government to present to the Federal Government a plan for upgrading the water supply for the 20 per cent with inadequate systems and thus access commonwealth funding with the minimum of disruption to the system, which works very well for the majority of the state."

The Mercury, 9/1/2007, p.37

The Energy Users Association of Australia estimates the current costs of compliance, now between $4 and $9 per megawatt hour, or up to 20 per cent in additional electricity costs, could increase to $25 per megawatt hour under a proposed emissions trading scheme, reported Annabel Hepworth and Duncan Hughes in The Australian Financial Review (8/1/2007, p.5).

EUAA sees blow to industry: Victoria and NSW have said they would not abolish their state renewable energy targets if the emissions trading scheme were introduced. According to a leaked copy of the EUAA’s response, to be submitted later this month, the costs were “likely to lead to fundamental shifts in the structure of Australian industry with consequent structural adjustment plant closures, job losses and loss of new investment opportunities”.

Proposed link to international carbon trade: The companies were responding to a discussion paper about a national and sector-based emissions trading scheme, which could in future link Australia to international carbon markets. Prime Minister John Howard has steadfastly refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, which sets targets for cutting emissions, but has softened his line on the greenhouse gas issue recently.

Fed taskforce to report in mid-2007: Last month Howard set up a separate taskforce to the states’ taskforce to examine a global emissions trading system. That taskforce, chaired by Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet head Peter Shergold, is expected to report by midyear, but federal Labor leader Kevin Rudd has said the country needs a scheme immediately.

The Australian Financial Review, 8/1/2007, p.5 Provided by eRisk

Control for central bank: Among the utilities that may be affected by his call for nationalisation is Electricidad de Caracas, a unit of Alexandria, Virginia-based AES Corp. In his speech Mr Chavez also said he would seek to strip the central bank of independence from the Government as part of a plan to overhaul the constitution. "The central bank shouldn’t be autonomous," Mr Chavez said. "That is one of the biggest mistakes of the constitution."

Profits, factories, farms in sights: Mr Chavez, who last year raised royalties on oil companies and forced some into joint ventures with the state, has stepped up his calls to regulate corporate profits and speed seizure of "under-utilised" farms and factories since his re-election. Mr Chavez’s control of the Congress, courts and state governments will help push through those plans.

Currency restrictions: Mr Chavez imposed restrictions in foreign currency trading in early 2003 to stem an outflow of dollars after a two-month national strike aimed at ousting him cut oil exports and drained international reserves. Venezuelan banks operate under interest rate caps; phone and power rates and rents are also controlled.

The Australian, 10/1/2007, p.17

Caltex says it has achieved its year-end target of over 100 Caltex-supplied service stations selling ethanol blended petrol, says The Australian Financial Review (22/12/06, p.13).

E10 at 125 stations: E10 Unleaded petrol, blended with 10 per cent ethanol, is now sold at over 125 service stations in the Caltex network from Canberra to Cairns. This has doubled availability within the network in just six months.

Biodiesel added: All diesel fuel supplied from the Caltex distribution terminal in Newcastle is New Generation Diesel, enhanced with two per cent biodiesel. Over 235 service stations supplied by Caltex new sell E10 Unleaded petrol or New Generation Diesel, or both.
Caltex supplies a range of biodiesel blends to commercial customers in New South Wales and South Australia.

Ready for increasing demand: Caltex has terminal and blending facilities in place to support increasing demand for biofuels, with plans to expand into new and existing markets. More service stations selling E10 Unleaded are also planned.

The Australian Financial Review, 22-26/12/2006, p.13  Provided by eRisk

Former US secretary of defence James Schlesinger, the co-chairman of the group writing a report on US oil dependency, said the oil dependence of China and India should be a concern, noting Beijing had already negotiated with rogue and "near-rogue" states such as Iran and Sudan to secure future oil resources, The Australian Financial Review (20/12/06, p.10) reports.

Competition with India, China: It also puts the United States in competition with China and India for oil imports, says the report, titled ‘National security consequences of US oil dependency’. “At best these trends will challenge US foreign policy; at worst, they will seriously strain relations between the United States and these countries,” the report by a 26-member group says.

Managing dependence: "The central task for the next two decades must be to manage the consequences of dependence on oil, not to pretend the US can eliminate it," the report says, adding that energy issues must be integrated with – but not be central to – US foreign policy.

The Australian Financial Review, 20/12/2006, p.10 Provided by eRisk

Inventories down: Meteorologists at Weather Derivatives have said demand for heating oil in the US north-east, which has the world’s largest heating fuel appetite, should remain 40 per cent below normal levels until January 11. The weakening in demand is also apparent in the level of US oil inventories, which expanded last week.

Unsettling for OPEC: The speed with which prices had wilted could unsettle producers in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which have been struggling over the last few months to nudge crude back up over $US60 a barrel. Broker Michael Davies predicted that if the warm weather persisted, OPEC could be forced to defend a level of $US50 a barrel. The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, announced two production cuts near the end of last year totalling 1.7 million barrels a day in a bid to shore up prices.

The Canberra Times, 8/1/2007, p.11 Provided by eRisk