Address: Main Office: John Gorton Building

Freedom of information

Two freedom of information request were received during 2010–11 involving the FQS Act and Regulations.

Administrative Appeals Tribunal

No Administrative Appeals Tribunal appeals were received.

Reporting

This section fulfils the reporting requirements of the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 (section 71) for the period 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010.

Monitoring and evaluation

Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 review—no action in this year.

Financial information

The department’s 2010–11 operating costs for the FQS Act, including staff salaries and allowances, consultancies, advertising and other related expenses, were $3.1 million.

Committees

Section 24 of the FQS Act establishes the Fuel Standards Consultative Committee as a formal consultation mechanism. The committee is required to include one representative from each state and territory and the Australian Government. It must also include one person representing fuel producers, one representing a non-government body with an interest in the protection of the environment, and one representing the interests of consumers. The minister may also appoint other members to the committee. In 2010–11 the committee included representatives from the motor vehicle manufacturing industry, independent fuel importers and suppliers, the alternative and renewable fuels industry, and the truck manufacturing industry.

Table 1 lists members of the committee during 2010–11.

During 2010–11 the committee had two formal meetings—September 2010 and March 2011. The committee also considered several issues out-of-session in July and December 2010 and in June 2011.

Under section 24A the minister must consult the committee before:

• 
  granting an approval
  
• 
  making a fuel quality standard
  
• 
  making a fuel quality information standard
  
• 
  deciding whether to enter a fuel additive to, or remove a fuel additive from, the Register of Prohibited Fuel Additives
  
• 
  preparing guidelines for more stringent fuel standards.
  

Under section 13 of the FQS Act, the committee also provides advice on applications to vary fuel standards, including recommendations on the conditions to be applied. In 2010–11 the committee considered and made recommendations on 12 new applications under section 13 (see Table 2). Eight of these were for the supply of racing fuels, three were for the supply of diesel containing biodiesel and one for the supply of biodiesel. A total of $345 750 in fees was collected from applicants seeking approvals.

The committee also made a recommendation on an application to extend approvals for 20 per cent biodiesel content in diesel (B20) from 1 March 2011 to 30 June 2012, when a fuel quality standard for these fuels is expected to be in place.

Additionally the minister approved six applications to add regulated persons to approvals. These applications do not attract fees and do not require consultation with the committee.

Australian Government fuel quality testing.

Table 1: Membership of the FSCC 2010–11

Name	Representing	Start date	Finish date
Paul Barrett	Fuel producers	09/07/2010	09/07/2013
David Bowman	Environment non-government organisation	09/07/2010	09/07/2013
Heather Brodie	Alternative fuels industry	16/11/2009	16/11/2012
Ann-Louise Crotty	New South Wales Government	13/07/2009	13/07/2012
Anne-Marie Delahunt Chair	Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities	09/07/2010	09/07/2013
Drew Farrar	Western Australian Government	09/07/2010	01/07/2011
James Hurnall	Automotive industry	30/03/2008	11/03/2011
Bob Hyde	Tasmanian Government	16/11/2009	16/11/2012
Damon Jones	Victorian Government	13/07/2009	22/04/2011
Paul Kesby Chair	Australian Government Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities	13/07/2009	09/07/2010
Guy Macklan	Truck manufacturing industry	09/07/2010	09/07/2013
Mike McCullagh	Independent fuel producers and importers	09/07/2010	09/07/2013
Scott McDowall	Queensland Government	09/07/2010	09/07/2013
Craig Newland	Consumer interests	17/06/2008	17/06/2011
David Power	Australian Capital Territory Government	16/11/2009	16/11/2012
Jon Real	Australian Government Department of Infrastructure and Transport	09/07/2010	30/03/2011
Greg Scott	Northern Territory Government	13/07/2009	13/07/2012
Michael Sheldrick	Australian Government Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism	13/07/2009	13/07/2012
Kelvyn Steer	South Australian Government	16/11/2009	16/11/2012

Table 2: Approvals granted in 2010–11

Name of approval holder	Period of operation from	Period of operation to	Approved Variation of Fuel Standard—refer to the gazetted Grant of Approval for complete approval and conditions	Amendment
VP Racing Fuels Pty Ltd	14/06/2011	31/12/2012	Variation of approval, adding one regulated person to the 20 January 2011 approval to supply specialist leaded and unleaded racing fuels	Addition of one regulated person
The National Biofuels Group Pty Ltd	14/06/2011	30/06/2012	Variation of approval, adding two regulated persons to the 26 February 2009 (effective 1 March 2009) approval to supply biodiesel blends (B20)	Addition of two regulated persons
Eastern Great Southern Petroleum	24/02/2011	30/06/2012	Extension of approval, from 1 March 2011 to 30 June 2012	Amendment of 06/09/2010 B20 approval, extending end date to 30 June 2012
Pro Green Biofuels Pty Ltd	24/02/2011	30/06/2012	Extension of approval, from 1 March 2011 to 30 June 2012	Amendment of 20/04/2010 B20 approval, extending end date to 30 June 2012
Pre-Logic Pty Ltd	24/02/2011	30/06/2012	Extension of approval, from 1 March 2011 to 30 June 2012	Amendment of 24/08/2009 biodiesel blends (B20) approval, extending end date to 30 June 2012
Australian Renewable Fuels Adelaide Pty Ltd Australian Renewable Fuels Picton Pty Ltd Eagle Fuels Pty Ltd Mogas Regional Pty Ltd	24/02/2011	30/06/2012	Extension of approval, from 1 March 2011 to 30 June 2012	Amendment of 21/08/2009 B20 approval, extending end date to 30 June 2012
Central State Fuels Pty Ltd EnviroOil Co of Australia Pty Ltd	24/02/2011	30/06/2012	Extension of approval, from 1 March 2011 to 30 June 2012	Amendment of 04/06/2009 B20 approval, extending end date to 30 June 2012
The National Biofuels Group Pty Ltd Biodiesel Producers Ltd Neumann Petroleum Pty Ltd Gull Petroleum (WA) Pty Ltd Smorgon Fuels Pty Ltd North Queensland and Pacific Biodiesel Pty Ltd Macquarie Oil Company	24/02/2011	30/06/2012	Extension of approval, from 1 March 2011 to 30 June 2012	Amendment of 26/02/2009 B20 approval, extending end date to 30 June 2012
Freedom Fuels Terminalling Pty Ltd The Biodiesel Station Pty Ltd Australian Biodiesel Group Ltd Future Fuels Australia Pty Limited Southern Renewable Fuels Pty Ltd	24/02/2011	30/06/2012	Extension of approval, from 1 March 2011 to 30 June 2012	Amendment of 26/02/2009 B20 approval, extending end date to 30 June 2012
VP Racing Fuels Pty Ltd	20/01/2011	31/12/2012	Variation of the Fuel Standard (Petrol) Determination 2001 to permit the supply of: specialist leaded racing fuel containing any or all of the following: lead up to 1.85 g/L, MTBE up to 55% v/v, olefins up to 60% v/v, oxygen up to 14.57% m/m in petrol not containing ethanol and up to 14.57% m/m in petrol containing ethanol, and sulfur up to 375 mg/kg specialist unleaded racing fuel containing any or all of the following: aromatics up to 55% v/v; ethanol up to 11% v/v, MTBE up to 55% v/v; olefins up to 35% v/v, and oxygen up to 9.5% m/m in petrol not containing ethanol and up to 9.5% m/m in petrol containing ethanol
Race Fuels Pty Ltd	20/01/2011	31/12/2012	Variation of the Fuel Standard (Petrol) Determination 2001 to permit the supply of: leaded racing fuel (avgas) containing lead up to 0.6 g/L specialist leaded and unleaded racing fuel containing any or all of the following: aromatics up to 54.9% v/v; lead up to 1.65 g/L, MTBE up to 36.0% v/v; olefins up to 36.2% v/v and oxygen up to 18.0% m/m in petrol not containing ethanol
Northern Dynamics Pty Ltd	20/01/2011	31/12/2012	Variation of the Fuel Standard (Petrol) Determination 2001 to permit the supply of specialist leaded racing fuel containing any or all of the following: lead up to 2.1 g/L, MTBE up to 50.4% v/v and oxygen up to 11.6% m/m in petrol not containing ethanol
Netaway Pty Ltd	20/01/2011	31/12/2012	Variation of the Fuel Standard (Petrol) Determination 2001 to permit the supply of: specialist leaded racing fuel containing any or all of the following: benzene up to 5.0% v/v, ethanol up to 6.8% v/v, lead up to 2.54 g/L and phosphorus up to 0.54 g/L specialist unleaded racing fuel containing any or all of the following: benzene up to 5.0% v/v, ethanol up to 13% v/v and oxygen up to 5.0% m/m in petrol not containing ethanol
Just Fuel Petroleum Service Pty Ltd	20/01/2011	31/12/2012	Variation of the Fuel Standard (Petrol) Determination 2001 to permit the supply of: leaded racing fuel (avgas) containing lead up to 0.9 g/L specialist unleaded racing fuel containing either or both: ethanol up to 20% v/v and oxygen up to 7.0% m/m in petrol containing ethanol
International Motorsport Solutions Pty Ltd	20/01/2011	31/12/2012	Variation of the Fuel Standard (Petrol) Determination 2001 to permit the supply of specialist unleaded racing fuel containing any or all of the following: aromatics up to 51.2% v/v; DIPE up to 7.0% v/v, MTBE up to 15.0% v/v and TBA up to 7.0% v/v
BP Australia Pty Ltd	20/01/2011	31/12/2012	Variation of the Fuel Standard (Petrol) Determination 2001 to permit the supply of leaded racing fuel (avgas) containing lead up to 0.85 g/L
ACB Group Pty Ltd	20/01/2011	31/12/2012	Variation of the Fuel Standard (Petrol) Determination 2001 to permit the supply of specialist unleaded racing fuel containing any or all of the following: aromatics up to 78% v/v, ethanol up to 20% v/v and oxygen up to 7.0% m/m in petrol containing ethanol
Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Limited	23/12/2010	31/12/2011	Variation of the Fuel Standard (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2001 to allow the supply of diesel containing up to: 5% biodiesel (B5), with a minimum derived cetane number (DCN) of 46 and a maximum density of 852 kg/m^3 more than 5% but no greater than 20% biodiesel (B20), with a minimum derived cetane number (DCN) of 46 and a maximum density of 860 kg/m^3
The Shell Company of Australia Limited	05/10/2010	30/09/2011	Variation of the Fuel Standard (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2001 to allow the supply of diesel containing up to 5% biodiesel, with a minimum derived cetane number (DCN) of 46 and a maximum density of 852 kg/m^3
Eastern Great Southern Petroleum	06/09/2010	01/03/2011	Variation of the Fuel Standard (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2001 to allow the supply of diesel with a biodiesel content of more than 5% but no greater than 20% v/v
National Biofuels Group Pty Ltd	06/09/2010	12/08/2012 or earlier as per approval and conditions	Variation of the Fuel Standard (Biodiesel) Determination 2003 to allow the supply of biodiesel with a minimum cetane number of 49
Race Fuels Pty Ltd	12/07/2010	31/12/2010	Variation of approvals, adding two regulated persons to the 15 December 2008 and 17 June 2009 approvals to supply leaded petrol (‘avgas’ and ‘racing fuel 100’) and petrol, supplied as specialist racing fuel	Addition of two regulated persons
The National Biofuels Group Pty Ltd	12/07/2010	01/03/2011	Variation of approval, adding two regulated persons to the 26 February 2009 (effective 1 March 2009) approval to supply biodiesel blends (B20)	Addition of two regulated persons
Just Fuel Petroleum Service Pty Ltd	12/07/2010	31/12/2010	Variation of approval, adding 13 regulated persons to the 11 January 2009 approval to supply leaded petrol (‘avgas’ or ‘racing fuel 100’) and unleaded petrol	Addition of 13 regulated persons
Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd	12/07/2010	30/11/2010	Variation of approval, adding two regulated persons to the 2 November 2009 approval to supply automotive diesel containing up to five per cent biodiesel, with a minimum derived cetane number of 46	Addition of two regulated persons

Outcome 3: Antarctica

‘Protecting the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean environment through science, policy and presence.’

At a glance

• 
  The Australian Antarctic science program undertook a total of 107 science projects from 30 institutions involving collaboration with a further 244 institutions from 27 countries.
  
• 
  1 000 tonnes of contaminated waste was removed from a disused tip near Casey Station, completing a 15 year remediation program.
  
• 
  In a world first, the sex life of Antarctic Krill in the wild was caught on camera by Australian Antarctic Division scientists, 507 metres off East Antarctica.
  
• 
  When a 78 kilometre piece of the Mertz Glacier tongue broke off exposing a section of the Southern Ocean previously covered in hundreds of metres of ice, over 1 800 still images of the sea floor were taken at depths from 170–2 300 metres.
  
• 
  2011 marks the 100th anniversary of the departure of Australia’s first Antarctic Expedition, led by Sir Douglas Mawson in 1911–1914.
  
• 
  In 2011 the inaugural R J L Hawke Post Doctoral Fellowship in Antarctic Environmental Science was awarded to geneticist, Dr Bruce Deagle. The three year fellowship honours former Prime Minister Bob Hawke’s contribution to protecting the Antarctic environment. Dr Deagle commenced the fellowship in March 2011. Fellows are employed at the Australian Antarctic Division, based at Kingston in Tasmania.
  

Outcome 3: Antarctica

Outcome 3

Advancement of Australia’s strategic, scientific, environmental and economic interests in the Antarctic by protecting, administering and researching the region

Australian Antarctic Division

Main responsibilities for this outcome

The Australian Antarctic Division is responsible for overseeing the Antarctic Treaty System, Antarctic and Southern Ocean environment protection, Australian Antarctic Territory and Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands administration, and Antarctic and Southern Ocean research.

Objectives

The objectives of Australia’s Antarctic program are based on the region’s strategic, scientific, environmental and potential economic importance for Australia. They include:

• 
  conducting scientific research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean that supports national policy and environmental management priorities, in particular taking advantage of the special opportunities the Antarctic offers for globally significant and coordinated research
  
• 
  preserving our sovereignty over the Australian Antarctic Territory, including our sovereign rights over adjacent offshore areas
  
• 
  protecting the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean environment, having regard to its special qualities and effects on our region
  
• 
  maintaining Antarctica’s freedom from strategic and/or political confrontation
  
• 
  being informed about developments in a region geographically close to Australia and being able to influence them
  
• 
  deriving any reasonable economic benefits from living and non-living resources of the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean (excluding deriving benefits from mining and oil drilling in the Antarctic Treaty area)
  
• 
  developing arrangements with other Antarctic programs to improve cooperation in science and logistics.