Kylea Tink (North Sydney, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. It is currently estimated there are over 20 million motor vehicles in Australia powered by internal combustion engines. These engines are running on some of the dirtiest petrol in the world. Given these petrol cars will still be on our roads for an average of 10 more years, please tell us when the Australian government will take action to ensure that the quality of our petrol will meet international best standards.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm very pleased to confirm to the honourable member that the government is currently, as we speak, consulting on fuel quality standards, particularly in relation to Euro 6; that process has begun. That is a matter for the climate change portfolio, for those opposite who don't understand government arrangements!

The minister for transport and I are also working very closely together on the related matter of fuel efficiency standards. They're two very closely related programs, but they're quite separate in terms of their implementation. Fuel efficiency standards are those which encourage and require manufacturers to send electric vehicles and other low-emissions vehicles to Australia—perhaps low-emissions vehicles and electric vehicles like utes, which do exist and are available in many countries around the world. They're not currently available in Australia, because we lack fuel efficiency standards. As somebody who's driven an electric ute, I can confirm they do exist and are available elsewhere, but, because of 10 years of policy indolence, they're not available in Australia.

But the honourable member for North Sydney is quite right. While that transition is occurring—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Longman is warned.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

there will be many internal combustion engines in Australia, and it is important that our fuel efficiency standards are best practice and our fuel quality standards are best practice. This government is in its first six months, and it has started the process of reviewing both. It is important that we consult with manufacturers and motoring groups. I met with motoring groups, as did the minister for transport, just yesterday and talked about exactly these two matters, as per the normal consultative and methodical practices of the government.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will resume his seat. I'll hear from the member for North Sydney on a point of order.

Kylea Tink (North Sydney, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's to the point of relevance. I specifically asked about petrol quality, and, with three out of four car sales in this country being second-hand vehicles, I'd really appreciate if the minister could give me an answer on petrol.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister is being relevant. He's about halfway through the answer, and I'll ask him to return to that part of the question before he has concluded.

Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In relation to the honourable member's exact question, I only began the consultation process a couple of weeks ago. It is important to allow people to have their say. That process is nearing its end. As soon as I've read through all the submissions and assessed all the evidence, I'll make a decision and announce it.