The Ministerial Forum on Vehicle Emissions has met to progress the Turnbull Government’s plans to reduce Australia’s vehicle emissions.
Minister for urban infrastructure Paul Fletcher and minister for the environment and energy Josh Frydenberg resolved to advance the work the Forum started before the federal election.
“The Ministerial Forum was established to examine options to reduce emissions from motor vehicles and improve air quality in our cities,” Fletcher says.
“We are determined to build on the consultations we initiated prior to the election and deliver emissions reductions in our vehicle fleet.
“The Turnbull Government recognises that the vehicle emissions reform agenda raises issues which need to be carefully considered, including for their impact on motorists, the automotive sector and others.”
Frydenberg says vehicles account for around 17% of Australia’s emissions and reductions in this area were an important part of the Turnbull Government’s broader strategy.
“The Government has committed to reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions so they are 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2030,” Frydenberg says.
“Since the Forum was announced in October, we have held formal roundtable discussions with industry and consumers and have invited the public to comment on a vehicle emissions discussion paper.”
Some 80 submissions have been received and will inform the development of draft regulatory impact statements on emissions. fuel efficiency measures and fuel quality standards. The Government expects to release these impact statements before the end of the year for public comment.
The interdepartmental working group supporting the Forum will then report in the first half of 2017 on a draft implementation plan for new measures.
Standards challenged over costs
A report by the Australian this morning suggests the changes the forum could add up to $1500 to the cost of every new car.
The analysis by the Centre for International Economics cites the government’s own work to warn of the $1500 additional cost for every new vehicle but says this could rise to $4863 if the technology needed to cut emissions ends up costing more than it is worth.
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