Opposition party pushes for ethanol mandate

The Queensland opposition will introduce a private member’s bill to parliament mandating the use of ethanol in petrol. Visiting the north Queensland city of Townsville in Australia, Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said the laws would require a minimum volume of ethanol in petrol sold in the state. A 5% ethanol percentage could be possible by 2009, rising to 10% by 2011, he said. He said the NSW government has had the advantage of being first in introducing a 2% ethanol mandate last October. “An ethanol mandate in Queensland could provide a massive kick-start to the fledgling renewable fuels industry, reduce Queensland’s reliance on imports, create jobs and improve air quality,” Springborg said. Springborg said Queensland was the best-placed state to mandate ethanol because of its strong grain and sugar industries. (May 8, 2008)