Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

Federal vehicle emissions studies

posted Friday 10 March 2017

The federal Department of Urban Infrastructure and the Department of Environment and Energy have been considering ways to minimise the impact of motor vehicle exhaust emissions. Submissions closing today were called for two of their documents.

Action for Public Transport's submission read:

Action for Public Transport (NSW) is a transport advocacy group, which has been active in Sydney since 1974. We promote the interests of beneficiaries of public transport; both passengers, and the wider community. We make the following submission on the draft Regulatory Impact Statement.
We note a large volume of discussion about reducing emissions, including the documents open for comment until 10 March 2017. There are many chapters on fuel quality, types of fuel, exhaust treatment standards and other matters. However we are unable to find any reference to causing people to drive less.
We therefore suggest that steps be taken to engage the States in a program to reduce urban emissions by means including:

Road access pricing
Urban design
Public transport improvements
Cancelling motorway expansions
Removing tax concessions to tollway companies, who have an interest in perpetuating heavy traffic
Shifting car taxation away from ownership and towards usage

Action for Public Transport home page