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New laws outlaw biodiesel home-brews

The Australian Democrats have attacked the major political parties for refusing to support the non-commercial production of "home-brewed" biodiesel.

Democrats energy and resources spokeswoman Lyn Allison says up to 3,000 Australians use the fuel, most commonly made from recycled fish and chip oil, in their vehicles.

She says it is ironic the Government passed legislation introducing an excise on biodiesel on the same day it released its environment policy.

"When the Government has announced that it'll drop excises on petrol and diesel but we're seeing them imposed effectively on all of the alternative fuels, and the legislation we dealt with was on biodiesels, one wonders where the Government's priorities are," she said.

"They're certainly not with cleaner fuels and not with renewables."

She says the new legislation effectively makes people who run their vehicles on the fuel outlaws.

Senator Allison says a small number of dedicated Australians have been using home-made biodiesel for years, actively promoting renewable fuels and clean air.

"Home-brewers will not produce biodiesel, or if they do, they'll be doing it outside the law [and] they'll be effectively tax cheats," she said.

"One of the reasons they won't continue to produce biodiesel is the cost of licensing and testing which means thousands of dollars in many cases.

"Not only will it not be viable but it would be very, very expensive."

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