This bill did not become law and is no longer proceeding.
Climate, energy & environment
Australia would tighten fuel rules so light vehiclesPassenger cars and smaller vehicles such as utes and vans, which are the vehicles targeted by the new pollution rules on this page. must meet the cleaner Euro 6dA European vehicle pollution standard that this bill uses as the benchmark for cleaner petrol and diesel vehicles. pollution standard, with diesel affected straight away and petrol from 1 July 2024.
Australia’s fuel standards lagged behind tougher European rules, leaving Australia unable to require cleaner Euro 6dA European vehicle pollution standard that this bill uses as the benchmark for cleaner petrol and diesel vehicles. light-vehicle pollution standards and risking further delay. The bill tightens petrol and vehicle standards, brings in Euro 6dA European vehicle pollution standard that this bill uses as the benchmark for cleaner petrol and diesel vehicles. for diesel and petrol vehicles, and makes Australian petrol rules catch up within six months of future European upgrades.
Australia already had national fuel quality rules and vehicle design rules, but its petrol standards lagged tougher European settings, which meant Australia could not require cleaner Euro 6dA European vehicle pollution standard that this bill uses as the benchmark for cleaner petrol and diesel vehicles. light-vehicle emissions standards and was at risk of becoming a market for dirtier models. As pressure grew in 2022 and 2023 to improve EVAn electric vehicle; it appears in the wider context as part of the pressure for stronger vehicle standards and better supply of cleaner cars. supply and stop Australia falling behind, this bill proposed tighter petrol and vehicle standards plus an automatic catch-up to future European changes, but it lapsed in 2023 and the Albanese government later pursued fuel and vehicle emissions reforms through its own policy program.
The main criticism was that cleaner petrol and tighter emissions rules could raise fuel prices and make popular petrol and diesel vehicles, especially utes and SUVs, more expensive or harder to supply. That case was raised mainly in media and industry-focused reporting about implementation and market impacts, while no party represented in the debate excerpts opposed the bill itself.
Kylea Tink MP introduced this bill. Speeches supporting it came from some crossbench members.
Did it become law?
No
The bill did not complete passage through Parliament.
Final passage
No final passage
The bill has not completed passage and is no longer proceeding.
Time before failure
246 days
From introduction to the final recorded step before the bill stopped proceeding
Meaning
Australia would tighten fuel rules so light vehiclesPassenger cars and smaller vehicles such as utes and vans, which are the vehicles targeted by the new pollution rules on this page. must meet the cleaner Euro 6dA European vehicle pollution standard that this bill uses as the benchmark for cleaner petrol and diesel vehicles. pollution standard, with diesel affected straight away and petrol from 1 July 2024.
Petrol sold in Australia would have to meet a new standard from 1 January 2024 so it can support vehicles built to Euro 6dA European vehicle pollution standard that this bill uses as the benchmark for cleaner petrol and diesel vehicles. pollution limits.
New light vehiclesPassenger cars and smaller vehicles such as utes and vans, which are the vehicles targeted by the new pollution rules on this page. would have to meet tougher exhaust pollution rules, with diesel vehicles covered from royal assentThe point when a bill becomes law after being approved by the Governor-General; this bill would have started some rules from that day. and petrol vehicles by 2024.
Australian fuel standards for petrol would automatically catch up within six months if Europe later brings in a stricter petrol emissions standard.
People who alter fuel in breach of the new petrol standard would face the same civil penaltiesFinancial penalties the government can impose for breaking the fuel rules, without treating the breach as a criminal offence. that already apply under current fuel rules.
The bill amends fuel quality standards, which set the levels of aromatics and sulfur levels, allowing Australia to move to more stringent emissions standards. Emissions standards regulate the non-co2 tail-pipe emissions from the vehicles. The bill will move Australian fuel quality standards to require light vehicles to meet Euro 6d vehicle pollution standards, immediately for diesel and 1 July 2024 for petrol. Euro 6d standards impose stricter limits on nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. The bill also contains a ‘lock-step’ mechanism to ensure that Australian standards do not lag behind future improved European standards by more than six months at any time.Fuel and Vehicle Standards Legislation Amendment (Reducing Vehicle Pollution) explanatory memorandum
This clause inserts a new fuel standard for petrol. The new standard will come into force from 1 January 2024 and will meet the requirements of Euro 6d noxious emissions standards.Fuel and Vehicle Standards Legislation Amendment (Reducing Vehicle Pollution) explanatory memorandum
This clause sets out a new national road vehicle standard to which the Australian Design Rule 79/04 applies. In addition to ADR 79/04, by 2024, petrol vehicles must comply with the requirements of Euro 6d. Diesel vehicles must comply when this Act commences, on Royal Assent.Fuel and Vehicle Standards Legislation Amendment (Reducing Vehicle Pollution) explanatory memorandum
Subclause (2) provides a ‘lock-step’ mechanism to ensure that if the European emissions standards change to a higher petrol standard that, within six months, this standard applies under this Act.Fuel and Vehicle Standards Legislation Amendment (Reducing Vehicle Pollution) explanatory memorandum
This clause ensures that the civil penalties for alteration of fuel which are outlined in the standard also apply to the new standard.Fuel and Vehicle Standards Legislation Amendment (Reducing Vehicle Pollution) explanatory memorandum
Context
Australia already had national fuel quality rules and vehicle design rules, but its petrol standards lagged tougher European settings, which meant Australia could not require cleaner Euro 6dA European vehicle pollution standard that this bill uses as the benchmark for cleaner petrol and diesel vehicles. light-vehicle emissions standards and was at risk of becoming a market for dirtier models. As pressure grew in 2022 and 2023 to improve EVAn electric vehicle; it appears in the wider context as part of the pressure for stronger vehicle standards and better supply of cleaner cars. supply and stop Australia falling behind, this bill proposed tighter petrol and vehicle standards plus an automatic catch-up to future European changes, but it lapsed in 2023 and the Albanese government later pursued fuel and vehicle emissions reforms through its own policy program.
EVAn electric vehicle; it appears in the wider context as part of the pressure for stronger vehicle standards and better supply of cleaner cars. waiting lists sharpen calls for tougher fuel efficiency standards
The Electric VehicleAn electric vehicle; it appears in the wider context as part of the pressure for stronger vehicle standards and better supply of cleaner cars. Council said more than 16,000 people were waiting for an EVAn electric vehicle; it appears in the wider context as part of the pressure for stronger vehicle standards and better supply of cleaner cars. and urged stronger standards to attract cleaner vehicles to Australia.
Australian Financial Review ↗Albanese government revives plan for new car emissions rules
The government signalled it would reopen the debate on vehicle emissions standards to avoid Australia becoming a dumping ground for models no longer welcome in other markets.
Australian Financial Review ↗Officials push tighter petrol quality standards
A department-commissioned cost-benefit analysis recommended lower aromatic limits in premium unleaded petrol so cleaner and more efficient engines could be sold here.
Australian Financial Review ↗Kylea Tink introduces the bill to align fuel and vehicle rules with Euro 6dA European vehicle pollution standard that this bill uses as the benchmark for cleaner petrol and diesel vehicles.
The bill proposed tighter petrol standards, immediate Euro 6dA European vehicle pollution standard that this bill uses as the benchmark for cleaner petrol and diesel vehicles. coverage for diesel light vehiclesPassenger cars and smaller vehicles such as utes and vans, which are the vehicles targeted by the new pollution rules on this page., later Euro 6dA European vehicle pollution standard that this bill uses as the benchmark for cleaner petrol and diesel vehicles. coverage for petrol vehicles, and a six-month catch-up rule for future European upgrades.
Australian Parliament House ↗The bill is removed from the Notice Paper
Its removal ended the bill's parliamentary run without the proposed standards becoming law.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Government commits to adopt Euro 6 fuel standards by late 2025
Labor announced tougher petrol standards outside this bill process, linking the change to wider access to cleaner and more efficient vehicles and lower transport emissions.
Australian Financial Review ↗Government unveils New Vehicle Efficiency StandardA later government reform mentioned in the context that would require cleaner new-car fleets rather than just changing fuel quality. details
The next stage of reform shifted from fuel quality alone to mandatory fleet emissions cuts for new vehicles, with the government arguing this would force cleaner imports into the Australian market.
Australian Financial Review ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The scrutiny committee listed the bill among bills on which it had no comment.
No comment
Scrutiny Digest 1 of 2023The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Key criticism
The main criticism was that cleaner petrol and tighter emissions rules could raise fuel prices and make popular petrol and diesel vehicles, especially utes and SUVs, more expensive or harder to supply. That case was raised mainly in media and industry-focused reporting about implementation and market impacts, while no party represented in the debate excerpts opposed the bill itself.
Criticism recorded here was limited and centred on cost and rollout risks, not the goal of cutting pollution.
Higher fuel costs
A key concern was that lifting petrol quality to support Euro 6dA European vehicle pollution standard that this bill uses as the benchmark for cleaner petrol and diesel vehicles. vehicles could increase costs for refiners, retailers and motorists, at least during the transition to the new standard.
More expensive or less available utes and SUVs
Related reporting warned that stricter pollution rules could push up the price of high-emitting vehicles such as utes and SUVs, or reduce their availability before cleaner alternatives were widely available.
Votes
No recorded votes were found before this bill stopped proceeding.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Tink strongly supports the bill and says it is long overdue because it will clean up Australia’s fuel and vehicle standards, cut pollution, and reduce fuel costs for motorists.
Read in Hansard ↗Chaney supports the bill, saying it would improve fuel quality and keep Australia’s vehicle emissions standards aligned with international levels so the country does not fall behind as the world moves to Euro 7.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
2 speakers · 2 support
“This bill will update the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 and Fuel Quality Standards Regulation 2019 to bring these in line with Euro 6d, so that petrol in Australia has no more than 10 parts per million of sulphur and 35 per cent aromatics by 2024.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill links our vehicle emission standards to European standards to ensure that we avoid being left behind as other countries move to Euro 7 in the future. I acknowledge that last month the government started the work on updating our vehicle emission standards by commencing a department of infrastructure consultation. This is a welcome start, but the options canvassed don't include an option to stay in line with future improvements in international standards. Even if Euro 6 is mandated for all new vehicles, we risk being left behind as the world moves to Euro 7. Pegging our standards to global standards will stop Australia from inadvertently being a laggard on emissions and vehicle efficiency. I support the member for North Sydney in her call for better fuel quality and maintaining vehicle emission standards in line with the rest of the world.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Removed from the Notice Paper in accordance with (SO 42)
Removed from the Notice Paper in accordance with (SO 42)
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills
No comment
The scrutiny committee listed the bill among bills on which it had no comment.
The committee considered the bill in Scrutiny Digest 1 of 2023 and made no comment.
Scrutiny Digest 1 of 2023