If fuel prices stay high it could put more pressure on the government to increase public transport, and increase livindensity in selected areas.
It also motivates people to be sparing, or find alternative means of transport that rely on fossil fuels less per person.
Over the long term it could aid in reshaping the state’s capital city to be less car centric and maybe more walkable.
What do people think?
Nah.
A sudden increase in the cost might cause petiole to reduce consumption but I don’t think it’s a sustainable reduction.
Over time inflation will account for the increased cost and habits will return to what they were previously.
We need to follow other countries with legislated end dates for sales of petrol and diesel cars. We have the tech, the only reason to delay is profits for manufacturers.
Its not really a sudden increase. Its an increased cost over the medium term now.
The increases began in September 2020, and while they have plateaued at the higher level. ( https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/consumer-price-index-australia/latest-release ). Theres no reason prices/market behaviour would revert to, or near , the pre-pandemic state of affairs, which is what would usually be expected in an industry. (Ignoring other world events)
I think you’ll find fuel prices have climbed faster than inflation, i can’t see why that would be different in the future. If we remain in a high inflation environment theres every chance fuel will be a contributor to that.
The only way inflation eats the increased fuel prices in the consumers favour, is if wages cost climb faster than fuel cost climbs. While there is wage cost movement, i don’t think it’s surpassed the rate of broader inflation, let alone fuel cost inflation. But, i haven’t looked at the charts to compare them in a bit.
We could legislate end dates. But it is still a relatively unpopular political decision, and we seem to be pretty scared of those in this country. But its a live option.
“You’re saving money, but it costs your time, which you could give to a second job.”
This quote from the article just makes me sad.
Why aren’t there already CATS in every one of those ‘tourist precincts’ the Barnett government introduced? That seems like a cost effective place to start building the public transport networks density.
Aren’t they funded by the local governments?
Are they? That would make sense that only Freo and Perth have done it then.
But if the state is looking at building more train lines, they should be looking at other forms of public transport to go along with those. And i’d wager there wouldn’t be many more LGA’s that could afford CATS within their own budgets.
But it could be interesting to leave it as LGA managed then, instead of a central body covering all.
https://www.fremantle.wa.gov.au/news-and-media/council-consider-cat-bus-future
Freo’s is funded partially by their LG, Perth’s is funded by parking revenue.
Looks like the blue cat is now cancelled due to the cost, bit sad. I always forget they’re free service, thats probably a bit unsustainable no matter where the key sources of funding comes from. https://www.fremantle.wa.gov.au/news-and-media/enhanced-532-bus-service-starts-weekend
