In response to news the Coalition will drop fines for car companies that breach Australia’s vehicle emissions standards, the Australian Conservation Foundation’s climate and energy program manager Gavan McFadzean said:
“This is a retrograde step from the Coalition.
“Transport emissions are Australia’s fastest growing source of climate pollution.
“Before the federal government introduced modest vehicle emissions standards two years ago, Australia and Russia were the only developed nations that didn’t have them.
“Emissions from vehicle exhausts are bad for the climate and dangerous for human health. They contain fine particles and nitrogen oxides that can lead to lung and heart disease and cancer.
“Australia’s road vehicle fleet is one of the most emissions-intensive in the world.
“A policy like this would see Australia become a dumping ground for high polluting cars.
“Having a last-century approach to vehicle emissions standards will come back and bite Australia through air pollution, climate emissions, noise and health impacts.”