uncle duster’s opinion repository Uncle Duster’s Year In Review Well, it's been another bumper year for the Australian petroleum industry, and PESA News Resources, along with your old mate Uncle Duster, has been there every step of the way, bringing readers in-the-know coverage of industry, from <strong>com</strong>pany and people profiles, regional and project reviews, to technology reviews, conference coverage and in-depth analysis of the 2012 offshore petroleum acreage release. Now, it's fair to say old Duster has been a little sceptical of this new technology that seems to be all the talk these days, especially among the younger generation, a technology consisting of a vast and ever expanding global web of <strong>com</strong>puter networks, delivering information to your home <strong>com</strong>puter screen via electronic, wireless and optical networking conveyance, however, g<strong>au</strong>ging the usability and ease of access of the online version of PESA News Resources, PNRonline, old Duster has undergone something of a fibre optic metamorphosis and is now a devout convert, well and truly jumping on the online bandwagon. Indeed, Duster reckons PNRonline makes a great ac<strong>com</strong>paniment to the print edition, having grown steadily since its 2010 inception. As it has done so since it first came online , throughout 2012 PNRonline has <strong>com</strong>prehensively documented goings on in Australian petroleum, offering users additional, online only, features such as webcasts of the PESA WA branch monthly technical luncheon presentations and a easily accessed database of ready information. In fact, Duster often uses PNRonline as a reference point when putting together his most keenly anticipated, widely l<strong>au</strong>ded column on goings on in Australian petroleum. So it is, delving into the digital annals, Duster reckons possibly the biggest news story for the petroleum industry in 2012, that with the most far-reaching consequences, was the introduction of the highly contentious and, right-to-the-end, heavily debated carbon tax. In Duster's eyes this was little more than a politically motivated and precipitous manoeuvre, not to mention a burdensome impost on industry; ever since 2007's 'climate change' election, carbon mitigation has, one way or the other, been on the Australian political agenda, and the government's introduction of the carbon tax this year was the parliamentary denouement of what had be<strong>com</strong>e an interminable, highly partisan and ideologically fuelled political soap opera. I ts introduction was particularly galling in light of Prime Minister Julia Gillard's pre-election <strong>com</strong>ments that, “there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead”. Yet here we are. Indeed, in previous years Duster has made note of the <strong>com</strong>petitive disadvantage the carbon tax places on the Australian industry in an international marketplace in which project investment is now more keenly fought for than ever, particularly in the Asia Pacific. Lets hope industry can get on with what it does best in 2013, with proper government support, relatively unhindered. The debate over the environmental safety of CSG mining continued at pace throughout 2012, with APPEA highly critical of the ABC's coverage of the issue. In one of a number of widely r eported incidents, the ABC was forced to remove coverage of a US study linking gas drilling to health problems and the potential implications for the Australian CSG industry from its website. APPEA Chief Operating Officer – Eastern Region Rick Wilkinson was not shy in broadcasting his views of Aunty's journalistic standards with regard to the debate: “Given the number of formal <strong>com</strong>plaints still to be resolved regarding the ABC’s error-prone coverage of CSG, it is remarkable to see the ABC continues to incorrectly report on CSG issues”, Wilkinson stated at the time. “APPEA is again seeking clarification regarding why the ABC has failed to properly check facts or claims made by the Greens or other activists.” This is a debate that will no doubt continue well on into 2013, and probably beyond. Duster has made his thoughts on the matter known, and reckons, separate from the often hysterical media shouting match, industry would best be allowed to get on with its business, with the appropriate controls in place, in what is a boom industry in the eastern states. In what was another big year for conferences, Duster particularly enjoyed PNRonline's analysis of the 2012 offshore petroleum acreage release announced at the annual APPEA Conference, this year held in Adelaide. Duster also enjoyed the many profiles that featured throughout 2012, along with the edition-by-edition special features, from safety to recruitment to Aussies overseas. Duster would also make note that he particularly looks forward to the regular View From The Top profiles in which his peers talk about themselves and their time in the petroleum industry, although it is an ongoing source of personal bemusement as to why he hasn't yet been approached to expound on his colourful life and views on industry. Doubtless this is in the metaphorical pipeline for 2013. As for what else 2013 holds in store, well, having seen just about everything there is to see over the course of what has been a long and celebrated career, nothing would surprise old Duster in the least, although he does r est easy in the knowledge that PESA News Resources and PNRonline will be there to document all relevant news and events as they have been doing so for over 20 years now. 12 | PESA News Resources | December 2012 / January 2013
Quality Multi-client Data
Change language