An independent review has found that the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 has led to a significant
reduction in the mass of pollutants and emissions arising from the use of regulated fuel.
The Australian Government will retain and amend the Act to ensure Australians continue to receive
its important environmental and health benefits.
We will review the legislative instruments made under the Act, including individual fuel standards.
The Government has a detailed plan to meet our climate change targets. Australia’s vehicles
account for around 17 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The outcomes of this review will input into a detailed plan to reduce vehicle emissions and help
consumers lower costs of running their vehicles.
Reviewing the fuel standards will complement and help inform the work of the Vehicle Emissions
Ministerial Forum.
The ministerial forum was established in October 2015 to reduce harmful emissions on Australian
roads and in our cities from motor vehicles.
Throughout the consultations, vehicle manufacturers have advised that issues relating to vehicle
efficiency, Euro 6 and fuel quality should be considered together as part of a whole-of-government
approach to addressing emissions.
The inter-departmental working group which supports the ministerial forum will report this year on
options for implementation of Euro 6, fuel standards, fuel efficiency measures (CO2) for light
vehicles, as well as emission testing arrangements.
The working group will then report in the first half of 2017 on a draft implementation plan for new
measures – aligning with the Government’s commitment to announce new measures to deliver
Australia’s 2030 climate change targets.
(ENDS)