Cleaner emissions standards for trucks and buses

The Albanese Government will introduce tighter noxious emissions standards for new trucks and buses, saving lives while preventing toxic air pollution and providing significant environmental and economic benefits for communities.

Noxious emissions are a significant cause of urban air pollution. They can cause heart and lung disease as well as cancer, with children and the elderly particularly susceptible.

The new standards, known as Euro VI, will be phased in over 12 months from 1 November 2024.

The Australian Government’s Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics estimates introducing Euro VI will save the Australian community $6.4 billion over 25 years from fewer premature deaths and chronic illnesses.

Australian based truck manufacturers and importers have been calling for the introduction of Euro VI standards for years.

Euro VI standards are already in place in the European Union and United Kingdom, and equivalent standards also apply in most developed countries, including the United States and Japan. China and India have also recently adopted equivalent standards.

Introducing Euro VI will mean manufacturers must add the advanced safety and fuel-saving technologies to Australian models that other countries already have. This will help improve safety outcomes, and contribute to our emissions reduction targets.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and National Transport Commission are working with state and territory governments to make changes to ensure operators purchasing cleaner and safer trucks maintain productivity when the new standards become mandatory.

Further improvements to fuel quality could help support introduction of tighter standards for light vehicles, known as Euro 6d. The Government is considering how best to improve fuel quality and enable all new light vehicles sold in Australia to meet Euro 6d standards.

For further information, visit www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/vehicles/vehicle-safety-environment.

Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

“These tighter noxious emissions standards for new trucks and buses will reduce this significant pollutant in Australia, and help reduce the number of premature deaths and chronic illnesses as a result.

“These new standards will improve air quality and health outcomes and bring safer and more efficiency trucks into Australia.

“We are committed to continuing to work with industry and state and territory governments to ensure the smooth introduction of these standards. 

“Australia has been lagging in our vehicle noxious emissions standards for years now, and this move will help bring our vehicle market into the 21st century – and into line with overseas vehicle markets.”

Quotes attributable to Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen:

“The Albanese Government has hit the ground running in cleaning up transport pollution and reducing it’s health burden, first by reducing the amount of sulphur in our petrol and now introducing tighter noxious emissions standards for new trucks and buses.

"We’re making transport emissions cleaner and greener”