Australia will move towards lower vehicle emissions with the implementation of today's policy announcement by Federal Labor to introduce a $2,000 Cleaner Car Rebate for motorists trading in older cars for new, lower-emission vehicles.

Australia's peak motoring body, the Australian Automobile Association, welcomed the Cleaner Car Rebate program ahead of the moves towards introducing mandatory carbon dioxide emission standards for all new cars from 2015.

AAA Chief Executive, Mike Harris, said the program is in line with international efforts to bring down greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles – private vehicle emissions currently account for around 8 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia.

"Incentives to encourage people out of less efficient cars into cleaner, more efficient vehicles and engines are a major part of the climate change challenge for Australian motorists and the community," Mr Harris said.

"AAA is Australia's representative on the global motoring body, the FIA, which has set targets to reduce the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) down to 140gCO/km – we are still awaiting a decision on the proposed mandatory CO2 reductions in Australia by 2015.

"While AAA and Australia's motoring clubs have a 10-point plan that allow motorists to do their bit in lowering emissions, incentives like this Cleaner Car rebate and the introduction of mandatory standards across the community will make a difference in lowering emissions.

"AAA and the constituent clubs support this announcement and call on other parties to introduce similar programs.

"AAA and the constituent clubs welcome this announcement as it will also encourage Australians into vehicles with significantly upgraded safety equipment than vehicles which were made prior to 1995.

People planning on upgrading their vehicle for improved environmental performance should also review vehicle safety performance on the Australasian New Car Assessment Program website at;
www.ancap.com.au