The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has responded to allegations made against it in a press release from a London-based think tank, InfluenceMap.
InfluenceMap is claiming that there is a co-ordinated campaign by the automotive sector to undermine key climate regulations.
However, FCAI chief executive Tony Weber says his organisation which represents the new car sector in Australia is concerned that InfluenceMap appears to be creating documents and representing them as FCAI commentary.
“This is inappropriate and misleading,” Weber says.
“Our voluntary standard was established back in 2019 in the absence of a federally mandated standard. The government has announced its intention to develop a standard, and we are working with them to set an ambitious yet achievable target for emissions reduction. We have been asking for this for almost a decade.
“The Australian consumer must be considered if this standard is to be effective. Rarely is the consumer mentioned in any commentary from ‘green’ groups. Price and product availability are essential factors in reducing emissions in Australia’s context.
“The world has moved on from 2019. Australia’s motoring industry has moved on. It’s time these groups moved on as well,” he says.
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