MELBOURNE, 2 APRIL 2025–Greenpeace Australia Pacific has criticized the Coalition’s decision to weaken the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) by eliminating fines from the program. This move is seen as a bow to the petrol car lobby, resulting in increased carbon pollution and costs for Australians.
“The NVES brought Australia in line with other major countries by implementing strong standards for car efficiency. Removing penalties undermines the effectiveness of this policy and puts Australia at a disadvantage,” said Joe Rafalowicz, Head of Climate and Energy at Greenpeace Australia Pacific.
“Taking away the penalties for car importers who bring the most polluting cars to Australia benefits the petrol car lobby and international companies like Mitsubishi Motors, to the detriment of Australian drivers and businesses.
“By 2035, the NVES is expected to prevent 80 million tonnes of car-related carbon pollution—equivalent to the annual emissions of the state of Victoria.
“Petrol and diesel cars currently account for a third of all greenhouse gas emissions in Australia and are projected to become the top polluting sector. There are already low-emission vehicles available globally to address this issue.
“Granting foreign car companies immunity to sell polluting cars in Australia, which they cannot sell elsewhere, shifts the responsibility of reducing emissions to other Australian industries and businesses.
“This abrupt reversal in policy, despite overwhelming evidence supporting strong efficiency standards, will hinder Australians’ access to more affordable electric vehicles that are cheaper to run.
“It will prolong the presence of polluting cars on Australian roads, prolonging exposure to harmful tailpipe emissions while other countries transition to cleaner, safer vehicles.
“Eliminating fines from the NVES and rendering it unenforceable is akin to selling a car without brakes and hoping it stops when needed. It is crucial to maintain this enforcement mechanism to ensure Australia’s automotive industry continues toward lower emissions and cleaner, more cost-effective vehicles.
“Greenpeace Australia Pacific advocated strongly for this crucial legislation that aligned Australia with other major economies. We will oppose the Coalition’s attempts to weaken this legislation every step of the way.”
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For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Vai Shah on 0452 290 082 / [email protected].
