Josh Wilson (Fremantle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy. What will the Albanese Labor government's new vehicle efficiency standard mean for Australian motorists, and what is the significance of this reform after a decade of inaction?

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

I thank the honourable member very much for his question and for his very active leadership on matters of climate change in this House. The honourable member asks me what it means for Australian motorists that this government will introduce vehicle efficiency standards. What it means is that, after 20 years of governments promising Australian motorists and consumers they'd get better standards and better choices, this government will deliver them. This government will deliver, after 20 years of failed promises.

Five decades after the United States introduced standards, Australia will catch up. Years after Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, India, New Zealand and Canada introduced standards, Australian motorists will catch up. Six years after the previous coalition government promised to introduce the standards and consulted on details, and then squibbed it, Australia will catch up. After $4 billion of unnecessary expenditure on petrol and diesel over the last six years, as a result of the previous government knowing that they should have introduced the standards but then not proceeding, Australian motorists will finally catch up.

Now, the minister for transport and I held a press conference just before question time with Tesla and Toyota.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Bonnie and Clyde.

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

Tesla and Toyota—and the opposition front bench says 'Bonnie and Clyde'! That's what they think of these Australian companies. They have quoted Toyota at every press conference. At every press conference they've quoted Toyota, and at every question time. Well, they can quote Toyota today, where their chief executive thanked the government for the engagement and said, 'It's time for Australia now to move on and implement these standards.'

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

The Treasurer will cease interjecting.

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

A broad cross-section of the motoring industry, joined by peak motorists groups—the NRMA, RACV, RACQ, for example, who actually represent motorists—CHOICE, who represents Australian consumers, and the motor traders association and the Automotive Dealer Association at the press conference backing the government's position, have now called for the broad cross-section of the parliament to pass the legislation.

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

The member for Forrest will cease interjecting.

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

You know who's opposed to the legislation? The Liberal and National parties and Advance. They're the two groups that are left opposing the legislation.

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

The member for Durack will cease interjecting out of her place.

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

It's not too late for the opposition to reflect on their position. The minister for transport will introduce the legislation tomorrow. There's a chance for the opposition to say: 'Okay. Toyota backs this. The Australian automotive dealers back it. The motor traders association backs it. Hyundai backs it. The NRMA backs it. RACV backs it. The RACQ backs it. Maybe we should back it. Maybe we should stop being so negative. Maybe we should do what we promised to do in 2016 and 2017, that the cabinet that the Leader of the Opposition was a member of decided and authorised the ministers to progress. Maybe it's time to catch up and actually be positive for once—actually support the government and support Australian motorists for once.