Mr TRUSS (Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) (11:51 AM) —At the outset, I thank the members for Dickson, Dunkley and Kennedy for their contributions to this debate. In her fleeting contribution, the member for Dickson acknowledged the opposition's support for this legislation and we are grateful for that support. I merely comment on her reference to opposition concerns about government proposals to reduce fuel taxation in regional areas. I am not sure whether that is the ex-Democrat speaking or the new Labor spokesperson for regional affairs, but let me assure you that the government takes very seriously the cost of fuel in regional areas. These taxation measures are a significant proposal to help equalise the costs of living around Australia and to ensure that regional Australia is able to effectively share in the economic growth of our country. All people in rural and regional Australia will be gravely concerned to hear the comments of the honourable member for Dickson about proposed changes to fuel taxation.

I compliment the member for Dunkley on his contribution and his recognition of the importance of consumers being aware of the energy usage of vehicles and of the contribution this bill will make towards having a more informed marketplace.

I think we were all interested in the comments of the member for Kennedy. Let me say, as a fellow Queenslander, that I share his concerns about the impact of the increasing level of glass, particularly on the tops of recently designed vehicles. A compromise is obviously being made between the aerodynamic styling, the attractive looks, and the effect that that has on the occupants of the vehicle. I am one who always tries to order a sun visor for my vehicle and I am finding it increasingly difficult to do so. I am told that some of the new models are coming out—with sun visors only designed at a later stage. Certainly, many of the manufacturers discourage the fitting of sun visors, because they rightly point out that it affects the fuel economy of the vehicle. There is no doubt that that is the case. It also affects the lines that the designers have chosen for the vehicles.

Many of the new cars have very little metal on top at all and the driver's seating position is exposed to the sunlight through the windscreen for the majority of the day. I think that is a matter of concern. I will certainly raise that matter with my colleague the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, Mr Anderson, and ask him to take the issue on board. I think it is a relevant issue and we do have to make judgments as a community as to whether some of those issues are so important from a health perspective that they have to be given priority.

I would like to make one other point to perhaps emphasise and support what the member for Kennedy said: it is not only the risk of skin cancer that is associated with exposure through the high glass contents of vehicles, but it also raises the temperature in the vehicle. They become much hotter and that has implications for airconditioning and also the safety of the occupants. There have been many tragic cases of that having an effect, particularly on young children who are left in vehicles. Some of those things I appreciate are difficult issues. The world believes very strongly, for very valid reasons, that we need to improve fuel economy wherever we possibly can but there are certainly other factors that need to be taken into account.

In the climate change statement of 20 November 1997, the Prime Minister announced that model specific fuel efficiency labelling was to be implemented as a part of the automotive industry environment strategy. The bill debated today will amend the Motor Vehicle Standards Act of 1989—the vehicle for Australian design rules—to allow that commitment to be met. Consumers and the environment will benefit from the introduction of the new ADR to make fuel efficiency labelling of motor vehicles mandatory—a concept similar to the energy efficiency labels on household electrical appliances that we have all come to expect in this day and age.

It is anticipated that the draft ADR and the regulation impact statement for this ADR will be released for public comment shortly, giving industry the opportunity to contribute to the development of this important measure. The proposed amended definition of `vehicle standard' is also broad enough to enable other agreed greenhouse/fuel conservation objectives to be implemented in the future, a point that was made by the honourable member for Dickson.

A number of other measures are contained in this bill. Notably, the ability to appoint an associate administrator which will allow the Federal Office of Road Safety to provide a better service to clients by ensuring that the functions of the administrator, particularly the routine ones, can be performed by more than one person. The remaining amendments are essentially mechanical in nature, aimed at improving the administration of the act. They include restoring the connection between this act and the Customs Act 1901 and removing a duplication of penalties.

On behalf of Minister Anderson, I thank those who have contributed to the debate and commend the bill to the parliament.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill read a second time.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Hollis) —If no member wishes to consider the bill in detail, I will put the report question forthwith. The question is that the bill be reported to the House without amendment.

Question resolved in the affirmative.