Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Minister Bowen, who of course is leading this effort with Minister King, has said that their goal is to release a draft fuel efficiency standard by the end of this year. I know that they have been meeting with a range of stakeholders on this issue, from the Electric Vehicle Council to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, to ensure they have a full cross-section of views. There are claims that you see being made from around that kind of area, saying fuel efficiency standards will increase the cost of cars, but yet again they are claims that don't stand up and are not supported by experience in the US or the EU, which have longstanding fuel efficiency standards.

What we've seen internationally is that fuel efficiency standards increase electric vehicle supply because they incentivise vehicle manufacturers to provide electric vehicles to our market to avoid penalties. As I said, the minister's intention is to release draft fuel efficiency standards by the end of this year, and there will be further consultation once that happens.