This vehicle standard prescribes the exhaust and evaporative emissions requirements for light vehicles in order to reduce air pollution.

This Act provides for national motor vehicle standards, and for related purposes. The main objects the Vehicle Standards Act are: (a) to achieve uniform vehicle standards to apply to new vehicles when they begin to be used in transport in Australia; and (b) to regulate the first supply to the market of used imported vehicles. The vehicle standards are intended to (a) make road vehicles safe to use; or (b) control the emission of gas, particles or noise from road vehicles; or (c) secure road vehicles against theft; or (d) promote the saving of energy.

This White Paper sets out the Government’s final positions on the design, implementation and ongoing development of the Emissions Reduction Fund.

The Act specifies provisions made under the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000. Repealed by the Fuel Quality Standards Regulations 2019.

The Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 (the Act) provides the legislative basis for national fuel quality and fuel quality information standards for Australia. The Act is in place to: regulate the quality of fuel supplied in Australia with the objective to reduce the level of pollutants and emissions arising from the use of fuel that may cause environmental and health problems; facilitate the adoption of better engine technology and emission control technology; and allow the more effective operation of engines; and ensure that, where appropriate, information about fuel is provided when the fuel is supplied. The standards regulate the supply of fuel to consumers and reduce toxic vehicle emissions. Modern vehicles require fuels that meet higher quality standards. Where a State or Territory has fuel quality standards in place, the Commonwealth standards operate concurrently. State or Territory standards apply where they regulate a fuel characteristic not covered by the Commonwealth standards.

This Agreement is intended as a high-level document to guide administration of the national legislation that will implement the measures agreed by COAG. This Agreement sets out the principles and processes for cooperation between the Parties undertaking that administration. In particular, it provides the framework for national cooperation on the Equipment Energy Efficiency E3 Program. The objectives of the Scheme are to i. create an effective and nationally-consistent framework for setting GEMS requirements (promoting a. reductions in energy consumption, and associated greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs, of Australian households and businesses; b. consideration of energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction by Australian households and businesses when making purchasing decisions on products that are subject to GEMS requirements; and c. the development and adoption of new equipment and technologies to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.). ii. ensure the involvement of the Commonwealth, States and Territories in policy development, decision-making, and funding of GEMS requirements, as well as in the delivery of appropriate regulatory functions; and iii. utilise the resources of all participating jurisdictions to achieve the best outcomes under (i) above.

In October 2008, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to develop a National Strategy on Energy Efficiency to accelerate energy efficiency efforts, streamline roles and responsibilities across levels of governments, and help households and businesses prepare for the introduction of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. The Strategy set out in this paper is designed to improve minimum standards for energy efficiency and accelerate the introduction of new technologies through improving regulatory processes and addressing the barriers to the uptake of new energy-efficient products and technologies. It therefore aims to encourage and support innovation in energy efficient technologies and approaches. It incorporates and builds on measures already agreed by COAG and the Ministerial Council on Energy through the National Framework on Energy Efficiency (NFEE).