Bert, you Aussies are not alone. Here in NZ the govt just love it- the higher the fuel goes the more gst they collect. Then there are all the other add ons and proposed add ons- like Kyoto obligations....
What is of greater concern is the reasons for the present record prices- traders screwing up the market and making obscene profits along the way! Any excuse will do and bang, up she goes again- its total bullsh#t and one can only wonder where it will end. One thing I can tell you is that oil is a commodity and historically what goes up with a hiss and a roar can drop just as quick. The sooner auto manufacturers get on top of alternative energy systems and we can give those bastards the finger the better- but then they'll probably own that technology themselves...
Then there is the small matter of since when did our oil companies buy oil on the spot daily market- only too quick to pass on any price hikes overseas yet both our dollars continue to rise against the USD and are they passing those savings on as they should be- I don't think so.Finger on the trigger to react when prices rise but pathetically slow to pass on any decreases.
And what do our elected protectors of the nation do about it- nothing.
Go mountain biking and f#ck the oil companies!
Cheers
Dave