Liquid Fuel Supply (Ethanol and Other Biofuels Mandate) Amendment Bill 2015

Overview

This bill creates Queensland's first mandatory biofuels targets, requiring larger fuel retailers to ensure 2 per cent of their regular petrol sales are ethanol or other biobased petrol, and fuel wholesalers to ensure 0.5 per cent of diesel sales are biodiesel or other renewable diesel. The mandate is designed to grow Queensland's biofuels industry, create regional jobs, and cut transport emissions while protecting consumer choice by excluding premium unleaded petrol from the target.

Who it affects

Drivers will see more E10 at larger service stations, major fuel retailers and wholesalers face new reporting and sales obligations, and Queensland's ethanol, biodiesel, sugar cane and agricultural sectors gain guaranteed demand for their products.

Key changes

• Larger fuel retailers (10+ stations, or any station selling over 250,000L of petrol per quarter) must meet a 2% biobased petrol target, with penalties up to 2,000 penalty units for repeat breaches
• Fuel wholesalers must meet a 0.5% biobased diesel target covering biodiesel and other renewable diesel from plant oils, animal oils, biomass or waste
• Premium unleaded petrol is excluded from the target so drivers keep their choice at the bowser
• Only biofuels meeting sustainability criteria (set by regulation) count, to avoid harms like fertiliser runoff into the Great Barrier Reef
• All fuel sellers must register, keep sales records for 2 years, and lodge quarterly returns or annual fuel volume reports
• The Minister can grant individual exemptions and suspend the mandate for up to a year during supply shortages or natural disasters