Gavan O'Connor (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries) Share this | Hansard source

I do apologise to you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I really am referring to the imbeciles opposite, who have not been able to put together a coordinated policy in this regard. Labor do have a policy. We intend to set up a regional resource infrastructure fund. We all know that Australia’s reserves are in remote areas and we really need to support the development of any additional resources with infrastructure. We have a policy to foster demand for new fuels and technologies. Kim Beazley, the Leader of the Opposition, has made quite plain in his blueprint what we would do. It is quite simple. We have said we would make alternative fuel vehicles tariff free, cutting up to $2,000 off the price of current hybrid cars. We would work with state and local governments to give traffic and parking advantages to these vehicles in the city. We would examine the granting of tax rebates for converting petrol cars to LPG. Those measures will have some effect.

With regard to the global race for innovation and the development of new fuels and fuel technologies, we will conduct a feasibility study into gas-to-liquid fuels plants in Australia, offer petroleum resource rent tax incentives for developers of gas fields which provide resources for gas-to-liquid fuel projects, work with industry to improve engine design and fuel quality standards, develop an ethanol and alternative fuel industry and examine a new infrastructure investment allowance for investment in Australia’s gas-to-liquid infrastructure. That is not the end of the story. There are a whole range of things a national government could do to develop a coherent and comprehensive fuel strategy for this nation to reduce its dependence and its exposure on petroleum based products. This government has not done those things and it stands condemned for not doing them. (Time expired)

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