Taxi plates - low emission vehicles

Extract from Hansard
[COUNCIL — Wednesday, 19 October 2011]
p8292c-8293a
Hon Lynn MacLaren; Hon Simon O'Brien

TAXI PLATES — LOW EMISSION VEHICLES

897. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the Minister for Transport:

I refer to the announcement that an additional 300 taxi plates will be released.

(1) Is the minister aware that, according to the Department of Transport, 14 per cent of Australia’s
greenhouse gas emissions are from transport, and 90 per cent of those emissions come from private
vehicles, predominantly motor cars?

(2) Does the government have a responsibility to act decisively on reducing emissions from transport
sources?

(3) What mechanisms does the minister intend to employ to ensure that any new taxis entering our streets
as a result of issuing 300 new taxi plates emit the minimum amounts of CO2 possible?

(4) How has the minister responded to the call from the Sustainable Energy Association of Australia to
ensure that new plates are available only on the condition they are to be fitted to low-emission vehicles?

(5) Would the minister consider introducing incentives for taxi plates for low-emission vehicles?

(6) Does the Minister for Transport believe the government should consider the carbon-constrained future
when making decisions directly related to introducing new vehicles onto Perth’s roads?

Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. In every case in which the member has asked a
question of the minister or the Minister for Transport, it is presumed she is referring to the Minister for
Transport’s actions or views.

Hon Lynn MacLaren: Yes, that is correct.

Hon SIMON O’BRIEN: I just want to make that clear in case anyone wants to be silly about it.

Hon Lynn MacLaren: Thank you. It is very clear.

Hon SIMON O’BRIEN: I am delighted, in a representative capacity, to provide this answer.

(1) Yes.

(2) The Liberal–National government has undertaken a number of measures to assist the state’s transport
system to respond to the challenges of climate change including the recently released draft plan titled
“Public Transport for Perth in 2031”, as well as continued investment in cycling infrastructure and
ongoing implementation of TravelSmart programs in workplaces, schools and households to encourage
a shift to non-motorised forms of transport. The government is also investigating and promoting
alternative transport fuels and vehicles, and continues to develop and implement a range of relevant
strategies in this area.

(3) There are a number of mechanisms the government has used to promote the reduction of CO2 emissions.
For example, the Department of Transport conducted a trial involving up to 13 Toyota Prius vehicles
and offered a subsidy of $15 000 per vehicle.

(4) The government is reluctant to impose a condition on future taxi-plate holders that would restrict their
choice of a vehicle that best meets their business needs.

(5) The government already provides a lease rate discounted by $50 a week for taxi-plate holders using
green vehicles.

(6) Refer to (2).