Latest news with #MichaelKane
The Age
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Age
‘Doesn't add up': RACQ slams unfair Brisbane petrol price hikes
Brisbane drivers are being urged to fill up the tank now as unleaded petrol prices hike by almost 60 per cent per litre at some service stations. Fuel companies in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast are currently increasing unleaded prices from a low of 160 cents per litre to a high of 219.9 cents per litre. RACQ head of public policy Dr Michael Kane said despite impacts from Israel-Iran conflict and the local price cycle, retail margins were far too high compared with other parts of the country. 'We're currently in the price-hike phase of the fuel cycle and while we usually see prices jump, an almost 60¢ hike is unjustified and unfair,' he said. 'We're seeing a lot of blame for these higher prices fall on international factors, like the conflict in the Middle East and volatile global oil prices, but these haven't led to a significant increase in wholesale fuel prices, so the massive spike at the bowser doesn't add up.' Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has written to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission calling for the watchdog to monitor for potential price gouging at the bowser by operators. Petrol prices have been fluctuating following uncertainty in the Middle East with Iran and Israel trading air strikes and the US bombing Iranian nuclear facilities. 'We don't want to see service stations do the wrong thing by Australian motorists,' he told reporters in Brisbane on Tuesday.
Sydney Morning Herald
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Doesn't add up': RACQ slams unfair Brisbane petrol price hikes
Brisbane drivers are being urged to fill up the tank now as unleaded petrol prices hike by almost 60 per cent per litre at some service stations. Fuel companies in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast are currently increasing unleaded prices from a low of 160 cents per litre to a high of 219.9 cents per litre. RACQ head of public policy Dr Michael Kane said despite impacts from Israel-Iran conflict and the local price cycle, retail margins were far too high compared with other parts of the country. 'We're currently in the price-hike phase of the fuel cycle and while we usually see prices jump, an almost 60¢ hike is unjustified and unfair,' he said. 'We're seeing a lot of blame for these higher prices fall on international factors, like the conflict in the Middle East and volatile global oil prices, but these haven't led to a significant increase in wholesale fuel prices, so the massive spike at the bowser doesn't add up.' Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has written to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission calling for the watchdog to monitor for potential price gouging at the bowser by operators. Petrol prices have been fluctuating following uncertainty in the Middle East with Iran and Israel trading air strikes and the US bombing Iranian nuclear facilities. 'We don't want to see service stations do the wrong thing by Australian motorists,' he told reporters in Brisbane on Tuesday.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Petrol price warning after sudden 60 cents a litre price hike: 'Unjustified'
Australian drivers are being warned to fill up their cars now as unleaded petrol prices soar by almost 60 cents per litre at stations in some parts of the country. Servos have been put on notice over fuel price spikes and warned not to take advantage of drivers as the Israel-Iran conflict causes volatility. Fuel companies in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast are currently increasing unleaded prices from a low of 160 cents per litre to a high of 219.9 cents per litre, according to RACQ. It's the highest prices have been in the southeast of the state for nearly 12 months. RACQ head of public policy Dr Michael Kane said taking into account all market factors, the group would expect prices to spike at an absolute maximum of 207 or 209 cents per litre. RELATED Price hike warning for Aussies travelling to Europe as US-Iran tensions escalate ATO $1,519 cash boost heading for Aussies in weeks Centrelink payment alert for 58,000 Aussies in caravans 'We're currently in the price hike phase of the fuel cycle and while we usually see prices jump, an almost 60 cent hike is unjustified and unfair,' Kane said. 'We're seeing a lot of blame for these higher prices fall on international factors, like the conflict in the Middle East and volatile global oil prices, but these haven't led to a significant increase in wholesale fuel prices, so the massive spike at the bowser doesn't add up. 'Fuel companies in the southeast have a lot to answer for, with some retail margins as high as 52 cents a litre.'Retail fuel prices in Australia are largely determined by global factors influencing international crude oil and refined fuel prices, along with the value of the Australian-US dollar exchange rate, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Local factors such as the level of competition can also affect retail prices. Cities follow different petrol price cycles, with the consumer watchdog noting that prices in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth were decreasing or facing the bottom of the cycle. In comparison, prices in Brisbane are increasing. Treasurer Jim Chalmers wrote to the consumer watchdog on Tuesday requesting it to be on the lookout for petrol stations using the tensions in the Middle East as an excuse to 'opportunistically' hike petrol prices by more than necessary. Chalmers noted that global oil prices had been pushed up by more than 25 per cent since the start of June from around $62 per barrel to around $79 at the start of the week, before moderating following the ceasefire announcement. "We don't want to see service stations do the wrong thing by Australian motorists,' Chalmers said. "We want to make sure that the market is operating effectively when it comes to the petrol price and what's happening with this volatility in the global oil price, but we call on the service stations to do the right thing by their customers.' Oil prices dropped following the Israel-Iran ceasefire, with Brent crude futures down 5 per cent to $US67.90 a barrel. NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury has warned fuel prices were likely to increase, but not by as much as some fear. On average, he said drivers were likely to pay about 8 cents more a litre at the bowser. RACQ said cheaper fuel was still available at around 50 per cent of service stations in Brisbane and 60 per cent on the Gold Coast. The group has urged motorists in the region to fill up their tanks now and aim to pay 170 cents per litre or less for regular unleaded. 'Do not go into the weekend with an empty tank, fill up now, and support the service stations that haven't hiked their prices yet,' Kane in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
11-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Atwell Acquires Capital Civil Engineering, Expanding Engineering Resources and Expertise in the Southeast
SOUTHFIELD, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Atwell has acquired the operations of Capital Civil Engineering (CCE), an engineering firm located in Apex, North Carolina. This acquisition expands Atwell's presence in North Carolina and the Southeast. With a 15-year history of engineering excellence, CCE is known for its expertise in engineering, site planning, land planning, and stormwater management. Founded by Michael Kane and co-owned by Michael McQuillen, the CCE team has decades of experience with regional and national projects. 'At CCE, we have a strong reputation of professionalism, high standards of quality, and client satisfaction,' said Kane. 'Atwell shares the same values and goals, so we're looking forward to expanding our capabilities and introducing new opportunities to our clients and employees.' 'CCE has an impressive portfolio of work and strong partnerships throughout North Carolina and beyond,' said Ron Waldrop, Senior Vice President at Atwell. 'Their engineering expertise and client-centered approach mirror Atwell's commitment to exceptional work and building strong relationships. We're excited to work with the CCE team to support existing and future clients in reaching their goals.' This is Atwell's third acquisition in 2025, preceded by the acquisition of Georgia-based SEI Engineering in January 2025 and Arizona-based Terrascape Consulting in February 2025. Atwell, LLC is a national consulting, engineering, and construction services firm with more than 1,700 professionals located across the country. Creating innovative solutions for clients in industries such as real estate and land development, power and energy, hydrocarbons, and infrastructure, Atwell provides comprehensive turnkey services including land and right-of-way support, planning, landscape architecture, engineering, land surveying, environmental compliance and permitting, natural resources consulting and project and program management.
Irish Independent
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Obituary: Michael Kane, one of Ireland's greatest artists, who was inspired by his urban surroundings and produced artworks up until the end of his life
Today at 21:30 One of Ireland's best-known artists, Michael Kane, who has died aged 89, was a maverick figure in modern Irish culture. An outspoken commentator on the machinations of the art world, his paintings, prints and collages drew on personal and literary themes. A major concern in his work is urban life and the experience of modernity. As his friend, the writer Anthony Cronin, put it, 'Not many visual artists in many countries reveal what Hamlet calls 'the very form and pressure of the time' as clearly as Michael Kane sought to reveal this changing Ireland of the 1970s and the early 80s'.
