The Government has today introduced legislation to establish an Energy Grants (Credits) Scheme which provides for payment of a grant to persons who are entitled to an off-road or on-road credit.
This Bill gives effect to the commitment made by the Government in May 1999 under Measures for a Better Environment to replace the Diesel Fuel Rebate Scheme and the Diesel and Alternative Fuels Grants Scheme with a single scheme called the Energy Grants (Credits) Scheme.
Under the provisions of the Bill, a person will be entitled to an off-road credit when purchasing diesel fuel for use in eligible activities that are the same as those activities currently eligible for a rebate under the Diesel Fuel Rebate Scheme. Similarly, a person will be entitled to an on-road credit when purchasing fuel for use in activities which are the same as those activities that were eligible for a grant under the Diesel and Alternative Fuels Grants Scheme. In this way the Energy Grants (Credits) Scheme will maintain benefits equivalent to those available under the existing schemes.
The Energy Grants (Credits) Scheme will be administered under the administrative and compliance framework contained in the Product Grants and Benefits Administration Act 2000. Claimants will be responsible for correctly self-assessing their entitlements and maintaining records to substantiate their entitlements.
The Energy Grants (Credits) Scheme will apply from 1 July 2003.
The Measures for a Better Environment package also noted that the Energy Grants (Credits) Scheme will provide encouragement for the conversion to cleaner fuels. The Government is committed to pursuing options to achieve this and is doing so by examining the issue as part of the consideration of alternative fuels within the Energy Task Force.