John MacDonald: Govt should be talking about more than just fuel supplies

Even though the New Zealand government is making the fuel situation sound a bit more urgent than it had been up until now, sounding slightly a bit more antsy than it was, I bet it still isn't enough to satisfy the head of the International Energy Agency.

Fatih Birol is blasting governments around the world, not just ours, for not being as upfront as they should be about the economic carnage from the Iran war.

The International Energy Agency essentially works with countries around the world in the energy sector and, when there are supply disruptions like we have at the moment, gives advice on solutions. It's also in charge of deciding whether to dip into energy reserves to keep supplies going.

Fatih Birol is saying today that the fuel crisis is worse than the combined impacts of the three biggest energy shocks in modern history. And he says that we would be better prepared if we fully understood the magnitude of the economic impacts. 

He doesn't think we are because he says our politicians are sugarcoating the situation and says he's had to come out and say what he's saying today because he doesn't think people fully understand the economic consequences of Iran shutting down the Strait of Hormuz. 

And he's laying the blame at the feet of politicians who he says should be making people aware that this isn't going to end when the war ends.

Politicians should be making people aware that there are going to be consequences for some time to come. He says households need to be better informed about the magnitude of the challenge we are facing. 

“I think they'd be better prepared if they understood what we are facing and what we are dealing with.”

Tell that to politicians though, eh? Especially politicians like the ones here who want to get elected later on this year.

I get it that the last thing government politicians, especially, want in an election year is to say that things are going to be pear-shaped for some time yet. 

Because voters don't want to hear that. But I think in the medium to long term, I reckon the Government would have far more credibility if it did do what the head of the International Energy Agency wants it to do and be as upfront as humanly possible.

Because you think about it, all we're hearing from the Government is how much fuel supplies we've got. We're not hearing anything from the Government about what this is going to mean beyond that.

If our politicians had the guts, they'd be telling us right now.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Canterbury Mornings podcast with John McDonald
from Newstalk ZB.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Even though the New Zealand government is making the fuel
situation sound a bit more urgent than it had been
up until now, sounding slightly a bit more antsy than
it was, I bet it still isn't enough to satisfy
the head of the International Energy Agency now, Fati bah
Rol is his name, and he is blasting governments around

(00:36):
the world, not just ours, but he's blasting governments for
not being as upfront as they should be about the
economic carnage from the Iran War and the fuel situation.
The International Energy Agency, by the way, essentially works with
countries around the world and the energy sector and when

(00:59):
there are supply disruptions that we have at the moment,
this outfit gives advice on solutions how to deal with it.
It's also in charge of decid guiding whether to dip
into energy reserves to keep supplies going, and they're yet
to give the green light for that, but that's what
the agency does, and this guy is the head of it,
and he's saying today that the fuel crisis is worse,

(01:22):
get this, worse than the combined impacts of the three
biggest energy shocks in modern history, and he says that
we would be better prepared if we understood, fully understood
the magnitude of the economic impacts. Now Farty bare Of

(01:42):
doesn't think we are. And why is that he doesn't
think we are because he says our politicians are sugarcoating
the situation. And he says he's had to come out
and say what he's saying today because he doesn't think
people fully understand the economic consequences of Iran shutting down
the Strait of Hamus, and he's laying the blame at

(02:05):
the feet of politicians. So he says, should be making
people aware that this isn't going to end when the
war ends. Politicians should be making people aware that there
are going to be consequences for some time to come.
I'll quite you a couple of things. One quote, This
crisis as things stand now is two oil crises and

(02:25):
one gas crisis put all together. He says, households need
to be better informed about the magnitude of the challenge
we are facing. I think they'd be better prepared if
they understood what we are facing and what we are
dealing with. Tell that to politicians though, ah, especially politicians
like the ones here who want to get elected later

(02:45):
on this year. And the last thing I geted, the
last thing government politicians, especially last thing they want to
be saying in an election year is that things are
going to be things are going to be pear shaped
for some time.

Speaker 1 (02:58):
Yet.

Speaker 2 (03:00):
AHFYI, this is not going to be all over when
the war's over. This is not going to be all
over when straight's open again. It's going to be pear
shaped for quite a while. Are you going to say that?
They don't want to be saying that in an election here,
do they? Because people don't want to hear that. Voters
don't want to hear that. But I think in the

(03:20):
medium to long term, I reckon the government would have
far more credibility if it did do what the head
of the International Energy Agency wants it to do and
be as upfront as humanly possible, because you think about it,
all we're hearing from the government is how much fuel
supplies were gone. We're not hearing are you hearing anything

(03:41):
from the government about what this is going to mean
beyond that? And I think it should be talking about
that because I reckon the Energy Agency guy, the International
Energy Agency guy, I think is correct, and I think
most people are just thinking, oh no, we'll just crank
up the stratufmovese again and everything will be fine and
we'll be back to how things were before Trump and
Netania who started, you know, going ballistic. That's not the

(04:06):
case at all, And if our politicians had the guts,
they'd be telling us that right now. But what do
you think have athing How informed do you think you
are about the economic consequences of what's happening at the moment,
And do you think the government is being as upfront

(04:26):
as the International Energy Agency boss says it should be.

Speaker 1 (04:32):
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