❓ A parliamentary question addresses the unique petrol standards in Western Australia, inquiring about their benefits, reasons for divergence from national standards, and impact on competition and production costs. The answer clarifies the differences, environmental motivations, and cost implications.
AnsweredQoN 1216Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Would the Minister please advise as to whether Western Australia does have legislative requirements for petrol that are unique in Australia?
(2) If so, how doe these requirements differ from those in the other State?
(3) Do the Western Australian requirements benefit the running of any internal combustion engine?
(4) If not, why are they different?
(5) Given the relatively small market in Western Australia for petrol, do these special requirements impede competition or add to the cost of production?
(2) If so, how doe these requirements differ from those in the other State?
(3) Do the Western Australian requirements benefit the running of any internal combustion engine?
(4) If not, why are they different?
(5) Given the relatively small market in Western Australia for petrol, do these special requirements impede competition or add to the cost of production?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 October 2003
Responded by
Minister for Local Government and Regional Development representing the Minister for the Environment
Response time
36 days
(1) Legislative requirements for petrol are different for the various jurisdictions in Australia. Most States and Territories are applying the national standards, whilst others, including WA with its Environmental Protection (Diesel and Petrol) Regulations 1999 have their own. The WA regulations specify standards for petrol that are generally more stringent than the national standards. (2) The WA standards for petrol differ from the current national standards for sulfur, benzene, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), olefins and aromatic content. Sulfur content in WA is limited to 150 parts per million, whilst the national standard is 500 ppm. Benzene content in WA is limited to 1%, whilst the national standard is 5%. MTBE content in WA is limited to 0.1%, whilst there is no national standard. Olefins in WA are limited to 18%, whilst there is no national standard. Aromatics in WA are limited to 42%, whilst the national standard is 48%, with a 45% pool average. Pool average refers to the average over a period of six months. The national requirements are being made progressively more stringent and will generally align with the WA standards by 1 January 2006 for all parameters except MTBE, for which the national standard will be set at 1%. (3) The WA requirements are not expected to greatly benefit or otherwise the running of internal combustion engines. (4) The WA requirements are different because WA chose to align itself more rapidly with emerging international standards for cleaner fuels which produce less air pollution so that Western Australians could enjoy the benefits of a cleaner and healthier environment. For example, a recent study found that Perth residents had lower personal exposure to the carcinogen benzene than other Australian cities thought to be primarily due to the better quality of WA petrol. (5) The WA requirements result in a small increase in the cost of production that is within the range that most motorists appear to be prepared to pay for cleaner fuel. The Government does not believe that the requirements have impeded competition.
(2) The WA standards for petrol differ from the current national standards for sulfur, benzene, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), olefins and aromatic content. Sulfur content in WA is limited to 150 parts per million, whilst the national standard is 500 ppm. Benzene content in WA is limited to 1%, whilst the national standard is 5%. MTBE content in WA is limited to 0.1%, whilst there is no national standard. Olefins in WA are limited to 18%, whilst there is no national standard. Aromatics in WA are limited to 42%, whilst the national standard is 48%, with a 45% pool average. Pool average refers to the average over a period of six months. The national requirements are being made progressively more stringent and will generally align with the WA standards by 1 January 2006 for all parameters except MTBE, for which the national standard will be set at 1%. (3) The WA requirements are not expected to greatly benefit or otherwise the running of internal combustion engines. (4) The WA requirements are different because WA chose to align itself more rapidly with emerging international standards for cleaner fuels which produce less air pollution so that Western Australians could enjoy the benefits of a cleaner and healthier environment. For example, a recent study found that Perth residents had lower personal exposure to the carcinogen benzene than other Australian cities thought to be primarily due to the better quality of WA petrol. (5) The WA requirements result in a small increase in the cost of production that is within the range that most motorists appear to be prepared to pay for cleaner fuel. The Government does not believe that the requirements have impeded competition.
(3) The WA requirements are not expected to greatly benefit or otherwise the running of internal combustion engines. (4) The WA requirements are different because WA chose to align itself more rapidly with emerging international standards for cleaner fuels which produce less air pollution so that Western Australians could enjoy the benefits of a cleaner and healthier environment. For example, a recent study found that Perth residents had lower personal exposure to the carcinogen benzene than other Australian cities thought to be primarily due to the better quality of WA petrol. (5) The WA requirements result in a small increase in the cost of production that is within the range that most motorists appear to be prepared to pay for cleaner fuel. The Government does not believe that the requirements have impeded competition.
(4) The WA requirements are different because WA chose to align itself more rapidly with emerging international standards for cleaner fuels which produce less air pollution so that Western Australians could enjoy the benefits of a cleaner and healthier environment. For example, a recent study found that Perth residents had lower personal exposure to the carcinogen benzene than other Australian cities thought to be primarily due to the better quality of WA petrol. (5) The WA requirements result in a small increase in the cost of production that is within the range that most motorists appear to be prepared to pay for cleaner fuel. The Government does not believe that the requirements have impeded competition.
(5) The WA requirements result in a small increase in the cost of production that is within the range that most motorists appear to be prepared to pay for cleaner fuel. The Government does not believe that the requirements have impeded competition.
(2) The WA standards for petrol differ from the current national standards for sulfur, benzene, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), olefins and aromatic content. Sulfur content in WA is limited to 150 parts per million, whilst the national standard is 500 ppm. Benzene content in WA is limited to 1%, whilst the national standard is 5%. MTBE content in WA is limited to 0.1%, whilst there is no national standard. Olefins in WA are limited to 18%, whilst there is no national standard. Aromatics in WA are limited to 42%, whilst the national standard is 48%, with a 45% pool average. Pool average refers to the average over a period of six months. The national requirements are being made progressively more stringent and will generally align with the WA standards by 1 January 2006 for all parameters except MTBE, for which the national standard will be set at 1%. (3) The WA requirements are not expected to greatly benefit or otherwise the running of internal combustion engines. (4) The WA requirements are different because WA chose to align itself more rapidly with emerging international standards for cleaner fuels which produce less air pollution so that Western Australians could enjoy the benefits of a cleaner and healthier environment. For example, a recent study found that Perth residents had lower personal exposure to the carcinogen benzene than other Australian cities thought to be primarily due to the better quality of WA petrol. (5) The WA requirements result in a small increase in the cost of production that is within the range that most motorists appear to be prepared to pay for cleaner fuel. The Government does not believe that the requirements have impeded competition.
(3) The WA requirements are not expected to greatly benefit or otherwise the running of internal combustion engines. (4) The WA requirements are different because WA chose to align itself more rapidly with emerging international standards for cleaner fuels which produce less air pollution so that Western Australians could enjoy the benefits of a cleaner and healthier environment. For example, a recent study found that Perth residents had lower personal exposure to the carcinogen benzene than other Australian cities thought to be primarily due to the better quality of WA petrol. (5) The WA requirements result in a small increase in the cost of production that is within the range that most motorists appear to be prepared to pay for cleaner fuel. The Government does not believe that the requirements have impeded competition.
(4) The WA requirements are different because WA chose to align itself more rapidly with emerging international standards for cleaner fuels which produce less air pollution so that Western Australians could enjoy the benefits of a cleaner and healthier environment. For example, a recent study found that Perth residents had lower personal exposure to the carcinogen benzene than other Australian cities thought to be primarily due to the better quality of WA petrol. (5) The WA requirements result in a small increase in the cost of production that is within the range that most motorists appear to be prepared to pay for cleaner fuel. The Government does not believe that the requirements have impeded competition.
(5) The WA requirements result in a small increase in the cost of production that is within the range that most motorists appear to be prepared to pay for cleaner fuel. The Government does not believe that the requirements have impeded competition.
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