Mr ANDERSON (Deputy Prime Minister) (9:32 AM) —I move:

That the bill be now read a second time.

The Motor Vehicle Standards Amendment Bill 1998 amends the legislative framework for the setting of standards for motor vehicles when first supplied for use in transport in Australia and provides for improvements to the administration of the act.

The proposed amendments will provide a wider definition of a `vehicle standard' to include standards designed to promote energy saving. This will allow the development of a standard for model specific fuel consumption labelling as announced by the Prime Minister on 20 November 1997 in his statement on greenhouse issues `Safeguarding the Future: Australia's Response to Climate Change'. This amendment is an important early step in implementing Australia's international commitments to reducing the level of growth in emissions of greenhouse gases to eight per cent above 1990 levels by 2010.

This standard is being developed by the Australian Greenhouse Office and will be subject to the normal consultative and development processes. The standard will provide consumers with comparative information about the fuel consumption of particular models of motor vehicle so they will be able to take this information into account when purchasing a vehicle. In the longer term, it is hoped that this initiative will encourage industry to develop more fuel efficient vehicles.

The bill also includes amendments to establish the position of `Associate Administrator'. The Administrator performs the function of my delegate and can exercise certain of the powers under the legislation. The appointment of one or more Associate Administrators allows more routine matters to be dealt with at a more appropriate level.

The remaining amendments improve the administration of the act by correcting errors and restoring the connection between this act and the Customs Act 1901. They are mechanical in nature but designed to improve the enforcement provisions of the legislation. Importantly, one amendment removes a duplication of penalties by removing criminal sanctions where there are already administrative sanctions.

The net budgetary impact of the amendments will be nil.

The amendments will come into force on the day on which they receive royal assent. I present the explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Debate (on motion by Ms Macklin) adjourned.