Here in Australia we used to refine 98% of the fuel we use.
Over the last 20 years 6 of 8 refineries have closed so that now the vast majority of fuel is imported.
Now every second idiot (most of which seem to drive tractors or trucks?) is saying we shouldn’t have closed our refineries.
However, i cant help but wonder how they would’ve felt paying more for their fuel over the last 20 years. Like if you could buy foreign refined fuel, or more expensive poorer quality local fuel, would all of those people be buying the expensive stuff just to keep those refineries open?
Of course not.
But subsidies! Sure. Yeah. Tax payers love subsidising dead markets.
The reason all our refineries closed is because they were old and tired and its obvious to anyone with a pulse that its not worth maintaining them.
I don’t think it’s that stupid on an argument. For example you wouldn’t know you’re paying more if imported fuel was taxed in a way that makes local fuel competitive. That tax money could go back into subsidizing, including modernizing the refineries.
The only problem with this plan is that it’s far far cheaper to exploit foreign countries for their natural resources instead of using your own. If we weren’t exploiting foreigners your local refineries would be worth a lot more.
Sure its “dumb” but no one wants to pay extra for lower quality stuff inperpituity just in case the yanks elect a senile idiot who shits the bed.
We dont really have any oil anyway. We’d still have e to import all the crude. Theres some deposits here and there but none really accessible and we have no idea of the quality.
Additionally, foreign trade hasn’t really “fallen apart” just yet. We’re one of the world’s largest LNG exporters and the people who refine diesel for us need our LNG just as badly as we need their diesel.
Loads of energy importers in SEA are in a much worse position than us, having nothing to bargain with.
This is the dumbest argument.
Here in Australia we used to refine 98% of the fuel we use.
Over the last 20 years 6 of 8 refineries have closed so that now the vast majority of fuel is imported.
Now every second idiot (most of which seem to drive tractors or trucks?) is saying we shouldn’t have closed our refineries.
However, i cant help but wonder how they would’ve felt paying more for their fuel over the last 20 years. Like if you could buy foreign refined fuel, or more expensive poorer quality local fuel, would all of those people be buying the expensive stuff just to keep those refineries open?
Of course not.
But subsidies! Sure. Yeah. Tax payers love subsidising dead markets.
The reason all our refineries closed is because they were old and tired and its obvious to anyone with a pulse that its not worth maintaining them.
I don’t think it’s that stupid on an argument. For example you wouldn’t know you’re paying more if imported fuel was taxed in a way that makes local fuel competitive. That tax money could go back into subsidizing, including modernizing the refineries.
The only problem with this plan is that it’s far far cheaper to exploit foreign countries for their natural resources instead of using your own. If we weren’t exploiting foreigners your local refineries would be worth a lot more.
That doesn’t make any sense.
Tax imports to support an industry that would replace the imports?
Even if the logic wasn’t fundamentally flawed, you’re still talking about paying more for fuel.
The failure is our LNG agreements. We should be getting a better price for LNG exports and we should have guaranteed diesel in return.
It will never make sense to have distributed manufacturing just because. Strong trade relationships is always going to be better for everyone.
Much dumber to import 100% foreign oil and then have no alternatives when foreign trade falls apart, no?
Sure its “dumb” but no one wants to pay extra for lower quality stuff inperpituity just in case the yanks elect a senile idiot who shits the bed.
We dont really have any oil anyway. We’d still have e to import all the crude. Theres some deposits here and there but none really accessible and we have no idea of the quality.
Additionally, foreign trade hasn’t really “fallen apart” just yet. We’re one of the world’s largest LNG exporters and the people who refine diesel for us need our LNG just as badly as we need their diesel.
Loads of energy importers in SEA are in a much worse position than us, having nothing to bargain with.
Fair enough. You seem to know more about this than me lol
Meh. Perhaps not much. I just listened to a podcast about exactly this question this morning. ABC News Daily I think.