Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I also rise to speak on the motion that the Senate take note of the report Australia's transport energy resilience and sustainability. We feel that the report was a very good summary of the varied issues at play with regard to securing Australia's transport energy supplies. The Greens are committed to ensuring reliable transport energy supplies that efficiently and effectively serve the needs of our community and industry, but which also, in addition to that, eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels and our greenhouse gas emissions. We in particular noted the submissions to the inquiry that highlighted the energy resilience opportunities and the emissions reduction potential of reducing fossil fuel dependence in our transport sector. So, while we support the recommendations contained in the report, we feel that stronger emphasis was needed in order to take account of the issues associated with reducing our fossil fuel dependence.

We support the recommendation to develop and publish a comprehensive energy transport plan but feel that this plan should also set targets for a secure zero-carbon supply of Australia's transport energy and outline a transition to achieve this supply over the coming two decades so that we will achieve not only fuel security but also zero carbon emissions from our transport. We want to encourage and support the development of zero-carbon and potential zero-carbon transport energy sources and transport systems, which would include comprehensive public transport systems across all capital and regional cities; investment in infrastructure to support and facilitate greater use of walking and cycling, and so to reduce the use of fossil-fuel-dependent vehicles; and the rollout of electric vehicles and the production of biodiesel produced from genuine waste products.

We also feel that the other really important factor that needs to be considered with fuel security is energy efficiency, so our further recommendation was that the Senate should pass the Motor Vehicle Standards (Cheaper Transport) Bill 2014, which would reduce fuel demand across the economy by requiring the importation of new motor vehicles to comply with global standards. I seek leave to continue my remarks later.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.