Ron Boswell (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, upon notice, on 7 September 2011:

(1) When will a decision be made to bring Australian small polluting engines in line with the standards of other first world countries, such as the United States of America, Canada, China, Japan and the European Union.

(2) Is the Minister aware that these small polluting engines are major emitters of carbon and that an Australian lawn mower pushes out 40 times the pollutants per hour of a small car.

(3) Given the commitment of the Federal Government to cut carbon emissions, when will the Small Engine Emissions Regulations for Australia be announced.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) Environment Ministers from all jurisdictions recently endorsed the development of a new National Plan for Clean Air. This new plan will provide a robust framework for identifying cost effective actions to reduce air pollution, and implementation arrangements for air quality actions. Non-road spark ignition engines and equipment is to be considered under this Plan. The Decision Regulation Impact Statement is currently being finalised.

(2) I am aware that non-road spark ignition engines and equipment emit a number of air pollutants, amongst them, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. I am also aware that they are high polluters relative to their engine size and usage. That is why the then Environment Protection and Heritage Council agreed to undertake a Regulation Impact Statement to identify options to manage air pollutant emissions from these sources.

(3) The Government's commitment is not only focused on reducing carbon emissions, but also on improving air quality in general for all Australians. The development of a new National Plan for Clean Air will be an extensive program of work that will require consideration and input from all jurisdictions.