20 May 2020
For Information: Suspending engagement on the evaluation of a national approach to manage non-road diesel engine (NRDE) emissions in Australia until late August 2020
In response to disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, I am writing to advise you we will suspend our engagement on our evaluation of non-road diesel engine emissions in Australia. This suspension will delay consideration of the cost benefit analysis by Environment Ministers. Previously this consideration was planned for late 2020 and has been revised to mid-2021.
In March this year we reached out to stakeholders to provide you with information on this work. Initially, we sought data from industry and feedback on the current state of NRDE in Australia to inform atmospheric and emissions modelling. We had then planned to engage all stakeholders in a discussion about hypothetical NRDE management scenarios based on international standards and the costs and benefits of these different approaches.
Stakeholders have welcomed the opportunity to engage. However, disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic have reduced the capacity for some to engage meaningfully and we informally paused engagement as we assessed the impact. In response to these disruptions we are now formerly suspending substantive stakeholder engagement activities until late August 2020.
We apologise for this delay but believe this decision will provide certainty and equity for all stakeholders. If you think you can continue to gather and provide relevant data to support the evaluation, please feel free to do so. We are happy to continue discussing this work with you but will not be undertaking formal engagement activities until late August. We will circulate a revised engagement schedule at that time.
Thank you for your participation to date. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or Brendan Pippen on 6159 7603 or Brendan.pippen@awe.gov.au.
To stay updated on the progress of this priority activity of the National Clean Air Agreement 2018-2020 Work Plan please visit our website.
Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
Ozone and Air Quality Branch | Environment Protection Division
John Gorton Building, King Edward Terrace, Parkes ACT 2600