Australia & Oceania

A US-based rights group denounced Australia yesterday, saying Canberra should be "ashamed" for allegedly robbing East Timor of much-needed oil and gas revenues from the disputed seabed between the two nations.

The world can descend into hell to fight over oil, or we can start now in reducing our reliance on it. We can live in peace with less oil, or we can die in war to try to maintain our lifestyle for a little.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson who less than a week ago dismissed concerns about peak oil, today acknowledged it.

Spiralling oil prices would force an economic crisis in Australia within 15 years if authorities failed to act now, the Australian Greens said today.

The Federal Government will launch a major push to find another Bass Strait-type oil reserve to combat concerns over Australia's looming oil supply crisis as part of a wide range of giveaways in today's federal budget.

AUSTRALIA has offered to send technical experts to the US to convince the California administration of Arnold Schwarzwenegger that liquefied natural gas plants can be environmentally safe and secure.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA - State Development Minister Clive Brown has a bold new energy vision for Western Australia, yesterday outlining the potential for a green hydrogen economy.

NEW ZEALAND - As this country continues hurtling towards the serious gas supply shortages predicted for 2005-06, commentators are hoping and praying for a less fractious and fragmented year than 2003.

"The US have only very recently become open about their energy requirements, and some say it's as big a crisis, or potential crisis, as during the oil shocks," says Australian Industry Minister, Ian Macfarlane.

New Zealand - News Roundup: Dramatic electricity price rises are on the horizon for homes and businesses this year.