From the news desk of the good old
Melbourne Herald Sun:
"DEPUTY Prime Minister
John Anderson today admitted he drove a large four-wheel drive which his own department's new website ranked close to the worst vehicle for air pollution and greenhouse gases.
He says the Toyota Land Cruiser met his needs for transporting his family on and off road in an electorate the size of Britain, and had recently survived an encounter with a mob of kangaroos.
But that does not mean everyone should aspire to large 4WDs.
"People ought to think carefully about what type of car they need," he said at the launch of the new green vehicle guide website (www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au).
"Out where I live I need a big heavy four-wheel-drive. But you wouldn't necessarily need that if your task centred on running the kids to school and maybe an annual holiday on a sealed road up to the North Coast of NSW from
Sydney.
"People need to think carefully and this guide will help them work though the issues about what sort of vehicle they need and what will best match their needs at the same time as ensuring that they exercise maximum social responsibility."
The new website, endorsed by the motor industry, ranks about 1200 different new vehicle models available in Australia by exhaust emissions and greenhouse gas impact.
It gives an overall rating, with specialist vehicles such as Honda's Insight Hybrid scoring the full five stars. The best of the Land Cruisers scores just one and a half stars.
Mr Anderson said another measure worth considering was a environmental star-rating for vehicles, displayed on new car windscreens in the same manner as energy efficiency ratings on dishwashers and washing machines.
He said more Australians than ever were buying new cars thanks to increased prosperity and low interest rates.
"It is important that they have all the information that they can possibly obtain to make wise decisions, not only about what they need in practical terms but about the fuel consumption and environmental impact that the vehicle they choose will deliver," he said.
Toyota Australia general manager for corporate affairs Peter Griffin said some information on the site might result in readers making incorrect assumptions.
"Visitors to the website may get the impression that vehicles that don't appear in the top 10 list are not environmentally friendly when in fact their emissions performance is far beyond minimum standards," he said in a statement.
"For example, according to the definition of the Air Pollution Rating used by the Guide, the Toyota Prius may be perceived as being a poor environmental performer. However, the Prius, along with most Toyota vehicles, operates at very high standards in relation to emissions."
Mr Griffin said Toyota accepted that the guide was developed using data provided by the vehicle manufacturers but testing and certification standards varied among global manufacturers, making it difficult to draw reliable and accurate comparisons between various makes and models."
http://www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au/gvgpublicui/StaticContent/HomeHTMLPage.htm
Think I'll go hang myself now for owning one of these "gas-guzzlers" and therefore being totally responsible for stuffing up the world.
BTW how do I post hyperlinks?
"To Post Hyperlinks:
For links: link text
For images: [ View Image]
means sweet FA so me.