Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

The New Vehicle Standards Efficiency (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2024 contains consequential provisions to support the commencement of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Bill 2024.

The bill contains consequential amendments to the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018(RVSA). The New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Bill 2024 relies on the mechanisms in the RVSA to support the introduction of the new vehicle efficiency standard. The entry of vehicles onto the Register of Approved Vehicles, established under the RVSA, is critical to the application of the new vehicle efficiency standard. Registry account holders under the new vehicle efficiency standard are also the same entities that hold approvals under the RVSA.

The RVSA to amended to ensure inspectors who are monitoring and investigating possible contraventions of the RVSA can also secure or seize any evidence they find of a possible contravention of the new vehicle efficiency standard. Non-punitive orders are also introduced to provide an alternative method for encouraging compliance with part 2 of the RVSA. For example, the secretary could apply to a court for an order that company staff are educated about the importance of ensuring information entered onto the Register of Approved Vehicles is correct, such as a vehicle's emission number.

The bill also amends the Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011 to enable the Clean Energy Regulator to assist the Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts in establishing and maintaining the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Unit Registry. The Clean Energy Regulator administers similar unit registries for the Australian government, and their assistance will help to ensure the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard Unit Registry is established and maintained effectively. I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.