Commonwealth of Australia Explanatory Memoranda Commonwealth of Australia Explanatory Memoranda[Index] [Search] [Download] [Bill] [Help]
2022
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fuel and Vehicle Standards Legislation Amendment
(Reducing Vehicle Pollution) Bill 2022
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
and
STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS
Circulated by authority of
Kylea Tink MP
Fuel and Vehicle Standards Legislation Amendment
(Reducing Vehicle Pollution) Bill 2022
OUTLINE
The bill amends fuel quality standards, which set the levels of aromatics and sulfur levels,
allowing Australia to move to more stringent emissions standards. Emissions standards
regulate the non-co2 tail-pipe emissions from the vehicles. The bill will move Australian
fuel quality standards to require light vehicles to meet Euro 6d vehicle pollution
standards, immediately for diesel and 1 July 2024 for petrol. Euro 6d standards impose
stricter limits on nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. The bill also contains a 'lock-step'
mechanism to ensure that Australian standards do not lag behind future improved
European standards by more than six months at any time.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The bill will have no financial impact.
NOTES ON CLAUSES
Clause 1: Short Title
This clause is a formal provision and specifies that the short title of the bill is the Fuel and
Vehicle Standards Legislation Amendment (Reducing Vehicle Pollution) Act 2022.
Clause 2: Commencement
This clause provides for the commencement of the Act on the day it receives Royal
Assent.
Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000
Clause 3: Schedules
Clause 3 provides that the Schedules to the Bill amend or repeal legislation as specified in
the Schedules, and any other items in the Schedules have effect according to their terms.
This is a formal provision that clarifies how the operative items in the Bill are intended to
have their effect.
Schedule 1: Amendments
Item 1 - Subsection 4(1) (at the end of fuel standard)
This clause provides for a new fuel standard to be part of the definition of a fuel standard.
Item 2 - At the end of subsection 20A(2)
This clause ensures that the civil penalties for alteration of fuel which are outlined in the
standard also apply to the new standard.
Item 3- After section 21
This clause inserts a new fuel standard for petrol. The new standard will come into force
from 1 January 2024 and will meet the requirements of Euro 6d noxious emissions
standards.
Subclause (2) provides a 'lock-step' mechanism to ensure that if the European emissions
standards change to a higher petrol standard that, within six months, this standard applies
under this Act.
Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018
Item 4 - definition of national road vehicle standard
This clause provides a new definition of a national road vehicle standard.
Item 5 - national road vehicle standard for light vehicles
This clause sets out a new national road vehicle standard to which the Australian Design
Rule 79/04 applies. In addition to ADR 79/04, by 2024, petrol vehicles must comply with
the requirements of Euro 6d. Diesel vehicles must comply when this Act commences, on
Royal Assent.
Subclause (3) provides a 'lock-step' mechanism to ensure that if the European emissions
standards change to a higher petrol standard that, within six months, this standard applies
under this Act.
STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
Fuel and Vehicle Standards Legislation Amendment
(Reducing Vehicle Pollution) Bill 2022
This bill is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the
international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny)
Act 2011.
Overview of the bill
The bill amends fuel quality standards, which set the levels of aromatics and sulfur levels,
allowing Australia to move to more stringent emissions standards. Emissions standards
regulate the non-co2 tail-pipe emissions from the vehicles. The bill will move Australian
fuel quality standards to require light vehicles to meet Euro 6d vehicle pollution
standards, immediately for diesel and 1 July 2024 for petrol. Euro 6d standards impose
stricter limits on nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. The bill also contains a 'lock-step'
mechanism to ensure that Australian standards do not lag behind future improved
European standards by more than six months at any time.
Human rights implications
This Bill does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.
Conclusion
This Bill is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.
Kylea Tink MP