Environment Minister Ian Campbell said the paper set out and assessed the technical issues relating to diesel/biodiesel blends and identified several potential management options.

“Currently fuel quality standards exist for petroleum diesel and for biodiesel, but not for blends of the two,” he said.

“As part of the Australian Government’s continuing work to improve air quality and deliver cleaner fuels, the Government has been systematically establishing national quality standards for a number of different fuels."

Campbell said developing quality standards would also help address market barriers and consumer confidence in the biofuels industry.

“The discussion paper, Standardising Diesel/Biodiesel Blends, does not put forward a government position. It seeks comment from all stakeholders on how best to address these issues and to standardise diesel/biodiesel blends in the Australian market,” he said.

Comments on the discussion paper can be submitted until January 2007, after which they will be reviewed and a government position drafted for release for further public comment.

A copy of the paper can be found at www.deh.gov.au