The DLP would work towards legislating a 10 percent mandate ethanol content in our fuel. This percentage would help secure a prosperous sugar industry while reducing foreign imports and improve the balance of trade.
The Australian Sugar industry is the most trade exposed sugar industry in the world. All other major producers of sugar consume more than 80 percent of the sugar they produce whereas Australia only consumes 20 percent of the production.
If Australia is to continue to maintain its food security, it is in our country’s interest to maintain and increase production here. The ethanol is produced from excess molasses and not only does it reduces the cost of fuel, it burns cleaner and reduces CO2 emissions. Many countries such as Brazil are already running their vehicles with over 85 percent ethanol content. The waste from sugar also provides a vital fibrous waste which acts as a food source for our beef industry.
The DLP is also calling for a feasibility study into the establishment of an ethanol industry in Tasmania. Sugar beet thrives in Tasmania and could act as an alternative source of ethanol while adding a healthy food source of the cattle industry.
There is some contention that ethanol reduces or restricts food production. This is simply not the case. While the DLP supports ethanol produced from sugar (and sugar beet) we do not support ethanol production from grain and other crops where the land could be used for the growth of grains such as wheat and corn.