11th Sep 2017, 6:00 PM – Senate Product Emissions Standards Bill 2017 and three others - in Committee - Motor vehicles

The majority voted against amendments introduced by South Australian Senator Cory Bernardi (Australian Conservatives), which means they failed.

Senator Bernardi explained that:

The purpose of this amendment is to ensure the government is true to its word in only intending to apply the scope of this bill to whipper-snippers, lawnmowers, outboard motors and other areas it has expressly identified, but expressly excluding vehicles. Vehicles are the highest source of emissions, but the government has sworn off regulating vehicle emission during this term of government.

Amendment text

(1) Clause 7, page 5 (after line 4), after the definition of mark, insert:

motor vehicle:

(a) means a vehicle that uses, or is designed to use, volatile spirit, gas, oil, electricity or any other power (not being human or animal power) as the principal means of compulsion; and

(b) includes a vehicle not designed for use on public roads or not permitted to be used on public roads.

(2) Clause 7, page 5 (lines 7 to 10), omit the definition of product, substitute:

product has the meaning given by subsection (5).

(3) Clause 7, page 6 (after line 4), at the end of the clause, add:

(5) Subject to subsection (6), a product means a thing (including a substance or mixture of substances) that is:

(a) manufactured; or

(b) prescribed by the rules for the purposes of this definition.

(6) A product does not include a motor vehicle.

Note: For the regulation of emissions in relation to road motor vehicles, see the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989.