This has got to be good for the consumer and not the fuel companies. I think once the punters on the east coast the benefit of this against the existing setup KR will be on a winner.

“How likely is it that Rudd will see your analysis, do you think, Poss?”

my question too, Harry.

Does anyone at Rudd HQ read Possums Pollytics?

I sincerely hope so.

Don

I am not trained in the economic play ground that many that visit this site are, (I do try my best Poss to broaden the horizon).

Not arguing the veracity of the the data and method (I dont understand it) the point I take is that the “new gate keepers” of such information are still acting as though El Rodent is in residence. Knowledge to the ordinary person might lead to a situation where that average person can make an informed decision!?!?!.

I have read Professor Don Hardings Draft and the bit that really works for me starts at page 23 chapter 5 through to his conclusion.

The MSM is still making the mistake of treating the average aussie as unable to handle large amounts of data/information on an issue and simplify it to reflect their own ideology. Obviously they believe the liberals are so inept that their assistance is required to return the rightful rulers to the government benches

A couple of MSM correspondents have reported the average australian has been given the Rudd government a unique opportunity to effect substantial change on a number of global and local issues.

I hope Rudd takes to heart the open government ideals that the professor and you talk about.

The one thing that is not in doubt is that petrol in Western Australia is cheaper than Eastern Australia ‘most of the time’ after 2001 is introduced, whereas it was more expensive before 2001. During that period, Fuel watch was introduced. If that is all the information you’re given, then FuelWatch causes petrol prices to be lowered is the only logical conclusion. What other event may have caused it? Change in taxation? Coles did not enter the market until 2004, so it’s not competition.

In regard to using ‘nominal’ vs ‘real’ prices, wouldn’t using the difference as a ratio of the price be enough? You can’t use CPI data because that’s a quarterly figure.

One thing is certain – if FuelWatch is implemented, I will have information on the cheapest petrol station in my region, and I’ll save money compared to a motorist who doesn’t use FuelWatch. How is that a bad thing?

Foolwatch was a political decision – not based on any data, becuase there was none. Maybe the reason the ACCC did not release the data it had was that it was the intellectual property of Informed Sources.

Future policy based on data collected by the Commonwealth should be different. Foolwatch was always going to be reviewed after 12 months – maybe because the data would be more robust?

Whether or not Possum the gov will adopt an even more rigorous approach to policy development remains to be seen, but I’d expect voters would at some stage demand the gov to FFS just make a decision and stop asking everyone else to do it for you.

The whole Fuelwatch debacle has been a stuff up by the gov. Luckily it’s irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. I doubt they’ll be so dumb in the future.

But they are the only source we have on historical petrol prices and it was this data that the ACCC had to rely on.

“Our clients can be confident that all data including historical information is securely maintained.” and it was until the ACCC was given to power to demand it.

Just to throw another confounding factor in – how accurate is Informed Sources historical data? Is it complete?

Can we say the data is correct? CI 95% (p=0.001)