National Fuel Strike. What Are Your Views?

bigbadboogieman on 12/10/2018 - 23:16

National Fuel Strike. What Are Your Views?

Some people have started to record their protest around high fuel prices all across Australia. It affects everyone in the form of price hikes for day to day items as well as public transport.

Especially with the fact that Petrol is taxed twice before reaching the consumer and of course the brunt of it is borne by the consumer, they are calling for a fuel strike on 26-Oct-2018. So far 149K people have registered their interest on Facebook to support this cause.

Some think it will be ineffective but atleast it's a start.

Given fuel prices have been a hot topic amongst OzBargainers, what are your views?

Facebook Link: https://m.facebook.com/events/482802342224676/

Would you participate?

Poll Options

  • 41
    Hell Yeah
  • 42
    Yes
  • 250
    No
  • 55
    Can't Care Less
Automotive Fuel

Comments

      • idjces on 13/10/2018 - 19:23

        It's a weird situation, i don't think traditional business/finance rules apply, the smart and wealthy will continue propping up the business if it keeps helping to transform the world for the better

        I'm a old school car nut, but a tesla is the one car i'd fork out for in the near future

        • kingmw on 13/10/2018 - 20:26
          -1

          Whenever people don't think traditional business/finance rules apply that's when people lose a lot a money. This is how bubbles are formed and lots of examples of this e.g. Cryptocurrency, subprime mortgage, GFC, etc.

          Ultimately if Tesla doesn't make a profit then it will fail (go into bankruptcy) and the best parts be bought out by its competitors.

          • idjces on 13/10/2018 - 22:25

            @kingmw: I agree the stock price is absurd, i'm only commenting on those who go short or bet on tesla's bankruptcy, that seems like a fool's errand

      • Tasmaniac on 13/10/2018 - 21:19

        This is exactly what I mean. Telsa just outsold BMW and ALL other luxury sedans in the United States.

        https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/electrek.co/2018/08/01/tesla…

        They're also just about to go berserk I'm China. You can sell me your shares if you like.

        • whooah1979 on 13/10/2018 - 23:00

          https://electrek.co/2018/08/01/tesla-claims-model-3-outsold-…

          (Note: this is a graph of market share, not number of sales. So while it looks like Model 3 is taking sales from other premium sedans at a 1-to-1 rate, that’s not the case. This graph merely shows Model 3 sales growth as a percentage of overall premium mid-size sedan sales, not necessarily a drop in sales from other companies.

          tesla is selling the model 3 at a loss. xiaomi may get away with this strategy for their smartphones to build up their brand, but the same can't be said for tesla.
          https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/21/ubs-repeats-tesla-will-lose-…

          the cars would lose about $6,000 each at Tesla's original plan to sell an entry model at $35,000, he said.

          • Tasmaniac on 14/10/2018 - 00:14

            @whooah1979: Wait, did you just post a UBS teardown theory as fact ?, you do know that CNBC aren't the biggest fans of Tesla ?. Even the premise that Telsa can't sustain a loss leading $6,000 might not be right, is that from CNBC to ?. Considering they're about start building in China and they won't have to pay a 40% import tariff maybe they can.

            Besides all that Elon Musk and the Saudis would keep the company going anyway, at least until it's profitable.

          • deek on 14/10/2018 - 00:24
            +1

            @whooah1979: I love Tesla articles. There's so much crap out there, it's amazing. Quite entertaining to read, and very amusing when people treat them as fact.

            Nobody but Tesla know how much they're making or losing on each car. Also, Tesla have not sold any entry level models yet, so even believing your article's conclusion, it's a bit disingenuous to say that they're selling the model 3 at a loss.

            Here, have an article that describes how profitable the higher spec Model 3 is, which is something that they're actually selling:

            https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/273804-model-3-has-highe…

            Personally, I give it more points, because it's not from CNBC.

    • payton on 13/10/2018 - 19:10
      +5

      if only the company isn't captained by an attention seeking self obsessed dreck of a human being

      • deek on 14/10/2018 - 00:33

        Meh. If we all stopped using products from companies headed by jerks, capitalism as we know it would grind to a halt. Certainly, nobody would be using any Apple products, and nobody would have a Facebook account.

        As for Musk, he's relatively benign. I've seen worse. I don't get the fuss over him.

      • RandomFox on 15/10/2018 - 07:03

        Lol, that's great.

    • Sage on 14/10/2018 - 10:14
      +2

      cheapest cars in the world ahhahaha they're like $200,000.

    • Levathian on 14/10/2018 - 10:21
      +2

      Lol with a Tesla you lose more in depreciation than you save on fuel.

      • Soluble on 14/10/2018 - 17:58

        As opposed to every other cars depreciation?

  • snajper on 13/10/2018 - 21:51

    I am in…. I will also stop breathing ….

  • ipiok on 13/10/2018 - 22:28

    All this supposed fuel strike has done is send prices up… Thanks a lot.

  • BertieBrown on 14/10/2018 - 06:54
    +1

    It’s a good indication of consumer awareness, and consumer preference, but it’s unlikely to change much. Oil is one of those commodities that the world just can’t live without, and sooner or later, strike or not, consumers in many situations will have to buy more oil products.

    If consumers want to send a message to oil corporations, partition the government to allow more electrical vehicles to be allowed into market. Heck, Australia is a land of sunshine, we should be building electric/solar cars, we’ve got the skills, and the infrastructure to do it.

  • RandomFox on 14/10/2018 - 06:58
    +2

    Be grateful it isn't like New Zealand where the current prices for petrol is around $2.30 per liter.

  • photonbuddy on 14/10/2018 - 11:34
    +3

    Strike for a day is useless. Petrol companies know people have to fill their cars, so they will buy the day before or after.

    No. This is a better plan: Boycott one brand for an entire month.

    This way, people can still get their fuel, but one company sees a massive drop-off in customers.

    The boycott could continue until that brand drops its prices as well.

    • pegaxs on 14/10/2018 - 16:56
      +1

      This is what I keep telling people. They need to boycott a major player and do it for a month. Then, as consumers, we need to say to the other big fuel station chains… "you're next!"

      Boycotting for one day is a laugh. The fuel stations will just jack prices for a few days before the "strike" and for a few days after… The easiest way to combat this strike would be to offer fuel for $1/litre that day. Then see how many people continue to strike…

  • Chewy Chunks on 14/10/2018 - 15:09
    +2

    Some think it will be ineffective but atleast it's a start.

    A start towards what? Whether people like it or not, the tax on fuel pays for a lot of shit you need if you want to live in a developed nation.

    You can do other things to conserve fuel and save money like organising your trips more efficiently, making sure your tyres are properly inflated, removing excess weight from your car & not accelerating so aggressively all the time.

    Participating in this protest will only demonstrate how utterly imbecilic you are.

  • zrmx on 14/10/2018 - 15:35

    I feel like there should be an option of "Taxing/introduce cap and trade, and further incentivise renewable energy infrastructure and electrification".

  • The Wololo Wombat on 14/10/2018 - 15:38
    +1

    Same people who protest expensive fuel in Australioa are the same people who protest mining/oil companies opening operations in Australia.

  • THICKnSLOW on 14/10/2018 - 19:49

    I've seen facebook. Lots of idiots on there as well.

  • TheSmegger on 14/10/2018 - 20:17
    +2

    I'm surprised it's as cheap as it is. Think about what you're getting for your money, consider the mobility and freedom we all get from this cheap, easily available (for us) product.

  • mubd1234 on 14/10/2018 - 20:26
    +1

    Really, this is such a wank. From my own experience talking to people, these fools who think a fuel strike is actually going to do anything are the same morons who only use one particular petrol brand (usually Shell or BP), and insist on using 98 Octane Unleaded when their car is factory rated for 91 or E10. They could choose to save money by filling up with 91 octane unleaded at the nearby independent servo, but nope - they've been brainwashed by marketing which makes them think that 91 octane fuel from an independent servo is mixed in with dishwater and will destroy your engone.

    Then when Shell V-Power goes up to 199.9 (while the Metro/United down the road remains at 149.9), they have a good old fashioned bitch about retailers price gouging. Then when I suggest they fill up at the cheap independent station, they go 'nah man, they literally water down their fuel!!!' (ignoring the regular, random state inspections of fuel quality).

  • Miss B on 14/10/2018 - 21:07
    +1

    I fill up about once a fortnight, it would have no effect. It also means I'm not heavily affected by it. Also, where I am the fuel seems reasonable compared to other areas, at the moment around $1.45, while people are reporting around $1.60 near Melbourne. It also doesn't go up at popular times of the week.

  • witsa on 14/10/2018 - 21:52

    So pointless. If you really want fuel prices to go down, take public transport, walk or ride a bike. A couple of idiots mildly inconveniencing themselves for a day is not going to be a blip on any company's radar.

    I never understood why people complain so much about fuel prices anyway. I use a tank every 1-2 weeks - it's like $70 a tank. I have much bigger costs in my life - taxes, groceries, utilities, rent etc. The maintenance, insurance, rego and depreciation on my car alone costs more than the fuel I pay.

    Plus, petrol is dirt cheap when you think about it. Petrol costs about the same as like orange juice. Yet, its a non-renewable resource that pollutes the Earth in every stage of its extraction, production and consumption.

    I'd be happy if petrol was twice the price we pay. Sure, there's short term pain, but higher prices only lead to more incentives for green alternatives like electric cars etc. that'll be much cheaper to run in the long run once the technology is developed and the economies of scale kicks in.

  • grasstown on 14/10/2018 - 22:29

    I think boycotting a brand each week could make a change. I think boycotting shell would be useless as its customers couldn't care less and would continue to shop there. I think boycotting bp or Woolworths is probably the best choice as their customers will probably bother to boycott.

  • Tuftsdude on 15/10/2018 - 00:16

    I'm overseas so doing an extended strike.

    • DarthAntz on 15/10/2018 - 11:38

      Same. Im paying close to $2 a litre (JP). but on a 660cc suzuki, so filling up once a month for about $50.

      Dont boycott a boycott

  • Levathian on 15/10/2018 - 10:58
    +1

    They have a valid concern. The price of fuel has gone up from the $1.20s/$1.30s to the $1.50s/$1.60s in less than 6 months. A lot of lower income people live in the outer suburbs and thus have to drive more. So say someone with a 70km round trip and does shopping etc. on weekends might find themselves driving 400km on average a week. This 40c rise in prices, for say a car that gets 8L/100, means an extra $14/week ripped out of their pockets. It's not an insignificant sum for someone on a budget and it does add up to $700+ over the course of a year, assuming you always fill up at the top of the cycle.

    But their anger is completely misplaced. Even if the servos are being 'greedy' and are taking a 5c higher margin than before, that's only $1.80/week. The cause of the other $11.20 rise is being completely ignored by these muppets.

    They should be protesting the government to invest in alternative fuels, invest in the EV and hybrid industry, protesting the rising federal fuel excise (which was indexed by Abbott), protesting against war and instability in the ME etc. You get my drift.

  • idonotknowwhy on 15/10/2018 - 11:33

    Are you guys sure Fuel is expensive here?
    I remember it costing this, or a little more, back in 2008/2009.
    So if you factor in inflation, isn't fuel cheaper now?

    • pegaxs on 17/10/2018 - 23:40
      +1

      Hey… stop it with the facts, ok. Just drop it and be outraged like the rest of the sheep on Facebook… :D

  • Plug on 15/10/2018 - 12:25
    +1

    The one day boycott won't achieve anything. There would need to be sustained targeting of one large retailer to force them to drop prices whereupon the others would hopefully follow suit. BP, Shell or Caltex.

  • Bid Sniper on 15/10/2018 - 12:40
    +1

    pointless, OPEC couldn't care about the our backwater country.

    Want to make a dent buy a Tesla, tell other people about it.

    • pegaxs on 17/10/2018 - 23:46

      Yeah! Because the people most hurt by fuel prices rising are totally able to buy $150,000 Tesla cars…

      Even a new Hyundai Ionic is out of the reach of most people. The pure EV version is going to $50,000+ when it finally gets released. Compared to an i30 at about $25,000, there is a lot of fuel to be had in $25,000+ price difference.

      Unless EV prices come down substantially, which they won’t, (read up on cobalt) then suggesting everyone buy a Tesla is not using your big head to think things through before your mouth says them…

  • idonotknowwhy on 15/10/2018 - 14:06

    So what are you guys even going to do? Will you buy the fuel before October 26th? Or will you buy it after October 26th?

    Unless you actually take a sick day, crowd the public transport or walk to work, you're not actually going to hurt whoever you're angry about, you're simply going to pay for your same amount of fuel on a different day.

    Sorry guys, but this won't help your cause at all.

    • Levathian on 15/10/2018 - 14:48
      +1

      Some people on that FB page said they were going to boycott public transport #pointless

      • idonotknowwhy on 15/10/2018 - 15:40
        +1

        lol! kids these days :)

      • DemocracyManifest on 17/10/2018 - 23:58

        Even the unemployed have to meet their obligations, (profanity) sake

  • rompastompa on 15/10/2018 - 15:02

    I wonder if the fuel companies will drop their prices down just for Oct 26th. That'll punish the strikers, or will it lead to my strikes as it would have been successful? 🤔

  • Cluster on 15/10/2018 - 15:57
    +2

    A friend works at a local service station and has reported many more drive offs and abuse from customers than usual. If you're reading this and feel justified in abusing the low wage worker behind the counter who has zero impact on the price of fuel, reconsider your actions.

  • Kempe on 15/10/2018 - 18:40
    +2

    A fuel strike for one day will achieve little as your average purchase is still the same you just purchase on a different day

    What will work is a national movement for people to take public transport to work for a month

    THAT will hit them bad

  • shaybisc on 16/10/2018 - 09:10
    +1

    This is the most brilliant idea I've heard of since Earth Hour although shining all those tiny torches on the Opera House last week comes close.

  • Hotfoot78 on 28/10/2018 - 13:20

    It sends a message to the politicians, so I think yes we should all get on board.

    • TheSmegger on 29/10/2018 - 14:48

      No it doesn't, simply because it has no effect on them.
      The election at Wentworth was a message to politicians, people not buying petrol for one day has zero effect on anything.

    • pegaxs on 05/11/2018 - 13:01

      We really showed 'em!

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