NSW SET TO LEAD WITH 2% ETHANOL MANDATE

Minister for Regional Development and Rural Affairs, Tony Kelly, today said that progress was being made towards NSW being the first State to mandate the use of ethanol in petrol.

Mr Kelly said that the government was working towards fulfilling the Premier’s commitment in February, to set a minimum requirement that 2% of all petrol sold in NSW would have to be ethanol from September onwards.

“The time for talk on ethanol is over,” Mr Kelly said.

“The Federal Government has gone missing on biofuel, so it’s up to the States and Territories to lead the way.

“I have outlined in Parliament the Government’s intentions to implement the 2% mandate to meet the desired timeframe.

“The 2% mandate is the first step towards a broader use of ethanol and alternative fuels, currently being investigated by the Premier’s E-10 taskforce,” Mr Kelly said.

Mr Kelly said that the broader use of biofuel was a win for jobs, the environment and motorists.

“This is why organisations like the NRMA, the AMA and country councils have come out in support of biofuel,” Mr Kelly said.

“The Iemma Government is backing its commitment to biofuel and getting on with the job with action, not just words.

“The National Party talks and talks about biofuel, but it hasn’t even managed to convince its Liberal colleagues to mandate nationally.

“Australia deserves a national system and a national market but we cannot afford to wait around while John Howard dithers.

“The Iemma Government is committed to cleaner air and stronger regional economies and is taking decisive action on ethanol to realise these commitments,” Mr Kelly said.