Talk:Australian PM Howard under fire over AU$1.40/L pump prices

I don't quite understand something. If Queensland is subsidizing the petrol prices, that means they are paying to lower them, doesn't it ? So they are adding taxes and paying to lower the price at the same time ? That seems silly, if true. StuRat 17:10, 7 September 2005 (UTC)


 * One obvious omission is the actual amount of taxes and percentage of the overall price. StuRat 17:10, 7 September 2005 (UTC)


 * Might I suggest a pic of an Aussie petrol price sign ? That's extra credit for you if you take it yourself ! StuRat 17:10, 7 September 2005 (UTC)

The Federal government takes the petrol excise, and (I assume from the article) that the Queensland State government subsidises. So yes, the two taxes are working against each other. I suppose it is happening because Queensland is more sensitive to petrol prices because it has a larger rural sector.

Good idea on the picture of the petrol price sign. I'll see what I can get on the way home. - Borofkin 00:27, 8 September 2005 (UTC)


 * I planned on taking one this afternoon, but I'm in Queensland so we don't get the high petrol prices which you would expect in a photo for an article like this because of the state government subsidy I mentioned :). Dorian Gray 06:58, 8 September 2005 (UTC)


 * That could still work, with a caption like "Lower prices in Queensland, due to state subsidy". StuRat 15:20, 8 September 2005 (UTC)

Unclear language
I've figured out what was so unclear about the article. It said:


 * "criticism of Queensland Premier Peter Beattie"

When it really meant:


 * "criticism by Queensland Premier Peter Beattie"

This led me to wonder why Beattie was being criticised, if he was subsidizing the petrol prices. I made the correction. StuRat 15:30, 8 September 2005 (UTC)