Media criticism of fuel watch...

http://www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au/flash/flash.php?id=381
Have a look through Nicholson's cartoons to see some of the criticism of the political response to fuel prices over the last year or so...
http://www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au/cartoon_6071.html

Begin your inquiry: What issues petrol prices?

Here the ACCC provides information regarding the 'price cycles' of fuel in major cities. This gives both suppliers and consumers more information about pricing - does this fact contribute to more competitive markets? There is other information which is very useful regarding the 'determinants of price in this market:
http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/280309
Fuelwatch was an initiative in Western Australia to reduce producer sovereignty and potential for pricing strategies which were unfair for consumers. You can learn a great deal through this little resource:
http://www.fuelwatch.wa.gov.au/info/dsp_petrol_prices.cfm
Our economy may be slowing, but there is still inflationary pressure. This article discusses some recent figures and the affect of an increasing fuel price:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/03/02/2504819.htm
OPEC will continue to play with Supply to affect the price of oil and ofcourse petrol, notice the expectations of a reduction in supply in response to lower prices in Singapore:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25166480-12377,00.html
Here's an interesting discussion about good politics and bad economics relating to fuel prices: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23765241-5013868,00.html

Fiscal stimulus - changing who holds the debt and when it is repayed?

In this article Ross Gittens of SMH anticipates that Australians will save most of the upcoming Fiscal Stimulus to pay off oversized debts:
http://business.smh.com.au/business/its-a-hangover-take-the-medicine-20090310-8u58.html
Is the Government anticipating this, or that our propensity to consume is high enough to keep the economy growing and keep up spending? Gittens title suggests that, whatever we do with the initial hand out, it is still the medicine which will ultimately contribute to lessening the 'hangover.' But, continuing the metaphor, what if many Australian's didn't 'get drunk' - having borrowed cautiously, saved prudently and spent wisely through this last boom anticpating a down turn in the market. These people don't need medicine - which itself will have side effects: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25175184-601,00.html
Here Peter Costello is reported to have warned the Australian public that Government spending now is financed by debt and itself will require repayment and interst payments later on - suggesting it may not be the most prudent policy decision.