FCAI appeals to Albanese on CO2 mandate

LESS than 48 hours after the results of the federal election were announced, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has called for the Albanese government to adopt the industry’s own voluntary emission reduction scheme for Australia’s light vehicle fleet.

According to FCAI CEO Tony Weber, now is the perfect time for the new Albanese Government to mandate the industry scheme that has been in place on a voluntary basis since 2020.

Mr Weber said any government mandated scheme must be technology agnostic, realistic and allow automotive manufacturers to bring efficient, low-emission technologies to Australia across a broad range of drivetrain options.

“The Australian public has made it clear that tackling climate change and reducing emissions is a primary concern. As an industry we are ready to work with the new federal government to transition industry’s voluntary CO2 scheme to a federally mandated one,” he said.

“Our members are bringing low-emission technologies to market that encompass internal combustion, hydrogen, hybrid and full battery electric systems. All these technologies will play a role in our short-medium term journey towards zero emissions and full electrification.

“Our message to government is simple: Give us the target (and) we will give you the technology.”

Last month, the ALP promised to offer discounted electric vehicles and to bolster EV and hydrogen technology if elected.

Mr Albanese said that upon winning the election, the Labor Party’s Driving the Nation Fund would contribute $500 million of taxpayer funds to roll-out more electric-vehicle charging stations across the country, doubling the $250 million pledged to the Future Fuels Fund by the incumbent government.

Mr Albanese called on Australians to imagine a future without petrol bills and said a truly national EV charging network would facilitate broader acceptance of electrically powered vehicles.

“Labor knows that, over time, electric and hydrogen vehicles can reduce running costs as well as emissions, and end Australia’s reliance on foreign oil,” Mr Albanese said in the lead up to the election.

“Only a Labor Government I lead will deliver a truly national EV Charging Network and roll out Hydrogen Highways across the country. This will be the key to Driving the Nation.”

In the lead up to the election, the ALP also said it will implement an Electric Car Discount and drop import tariffs and fringe-benefit taxes for EVs, boosting the new car market and expanding the availability of used EVs.

The party also pledged to further invest in biofuel solutions, EV charging stations at 150km intervals on major arterial roads and contribute $80 million to deliver up to 16 hydrogen refuelling stations along Australia’s busiest freight routes.