We are seeking your feedback on the design of a fuel efficiency (CO2) standard, that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save Australians money on fuel and see cleaner cars on the road.
Why we want your input
Your input will inform the development of a fuel efficiency standard that provides global vehicle manufacturers with the right incentives to send cleaner, greener vehicles to Australia.How you can voice your opinion
Read the consultation paper below and tell us what you think by making a submission or writing to the department.What will be the outcome of this consultation?
Your submission will inform the Government's approach to an Australian fuel efficiency standard and support our achievement of net zero emissions by 2050.The Issue
Introducing an Australian fuel efficiency standard can increase the supply of low and zero emissions vehicles in Australia to reduce emissions, reduce fuel costs, and achieve our net zero target.
The transport sector makes up 19% of Australia's emissions, and is projected to be the largest source of emissions by 2030. On average, passenger cars in Australia emit 40% more carbon than cars in the European Union, 20% more than the US and 15% more than New Zealand.
Australia is one of the last industrialised countries to develop a fuel efficiency standard. Australians are getting left behind as the world moves to cleaner cars and are paying more at the bowser as a result. Over 85% of cars sold worldwide are covered by a fuel efficiency standard including in the United States, the European Union, New Zealand, China, India and many more.
The response to the National Electric Vehicle Strategy consultation was clear, without a fuel efficiency standard, there is no requirement for global vehicle manufacturers to send their best fuel saving technology to Australia, including high efficiency internal combustion engine technology, hybrids and electric vehicles (EVs). The lack of proper incentives also means that the plug-in hybrids and EVs supplied to Australia can also be more expensive. As a result, fewer low emissions vehicles flow to the used car market where around 70% of Australians purchase their vehicles.
A fuel efficiency standard in Australia will lower emissions and improve consumer choice, and Australians will still be able to access the vehicles they need, from hatches to 4-wheel drives, utes to vans. A fuel efficiency standard will increase consumer choice of more efficient petrol and diesel engines, hybrids, and more affordable plug-in hybrids and battery EV options.
We have set out key design questions in this consultation paper and will work with stakeholders to design a strong standard that is right for Australia. We seek the views of all interested Australians, including vehicle industry, climate groups, think tanks, unions, regional Australians and individuals.
You can use the discussion paper below to guide your submission.
Relevant documentation
Participate
19 Apr 2023 08:00 AEST
31 May 2023 23:59 AEST
Open
less than a day remaining
You can have your say by:
- Adding a comment in the 'short comment' box (below); or
- uploading a submission below, or emailing it to cleanercars@infrastructure.gov.au
- Writing to us at
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
GPO Box 2154
Canberra ACT 2601
Attention: Director, Fuel Efficiency Standards—Surface Transport Emissions and Policy Division
Please include:
- contact name
- organisation name, if applicable
- contact details, including telephone number, postal and email addresses
- confirmation whether or not your submission can be made public—published—or kept confidential.
You can complete and attach the consultation feedback form if you would like to provide detailed feedback.
If your submission is to be made public, please ensure you do not include any personal information that you don't want to be published.
If your submission is confidential, please ensure each page of the submission is marked as confidential.
Please click on the 'Have your say now' button below to upload your submission.
Alternatively please email your completed template submission to cleanercars@infrastructure.gov.au.
Australian Privacy Principle 5 Notice
A Fuel Efficiency Standard for Australia
The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the department) is collecting information for the purposes of informing approaches to develop an Australian Fuel Efficiency Standard in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988.
The department will use this information to inform consideration of issues associated with Fuel Efficiency Standards and will store this information securely. It may be used by the department to make further contact with you about the review.
The department will not disclose information to third parties, except in the circumstances outlined below.
Submissions, in part or full, including the name of the author may be published on the department's website unless the submission is confidential. Confidential submissions (including the author's name) will not be published. Private addresses and contact details will not be published or disclosed to any third parties unless required by law.
Submissions will only be treated as confidential if they are expressly stated to be confidential. Automatically generated confidentiality statements or disclaimers appended to an email do not suffice for this purpose. If you wish you make a confidential submission, you should indicate this by ensuring your submission is marked confidential.
Confidential submissions will be kept securely and will only be disclosed in the following circumstances:
- in response to a request by a Commonwealth Minister
- where required by a House or a Committee of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia
- where required by law.
The department may also disclose confidential submissions within the Commonwealth of Australia, including with other Commonwealth agencies, where necessary in the public interest.
Please note that in order to protect the personal privacy of individuals in accordance with the Privacy Act any submissions containing sensitive information, personal information or information which may reasonably be used to identify a person or group of people may not be published, even if not marked as confidential.
The department's privacy policy contains information regarding complaint handling processes and how to access and/or seek correction of personal information held by the department. The Privacy Officer can be contacted on 02 6274 6495 or by email: privacy@infrastructure.gov.au.